Future of Strait school board in doubt

Nova Scotia's minister of education says she'll consider disbanding the elected Strait Regional School Board if she receives a formal request from the chairman.

Karen Casey said Thursday she's waiting to hear from board chair Henry Van Berkel.

"If and when I get a letter from him with that request, I will give it very serious consideration," she said.

It is unclear what Van Berkel will do.

In an interview with CBC News earlier in the day, Van Berkel suggested thatdisbanding the board may be the only way to deal with continuing squabbles at meetings.

In the interview, he said hewould be prepared to support such a radical move.

"If we can't function properly, then I don't think we can serve the students that we're supposed to be serving," he said.

The Strait board, with 12 elected members, is responsible for 25 schools and 7,830 students.

In February, Casey accused members of acting irresponsibly and stripped the board of some of its powers. She appointed John Sears, a former university professor, to manage the finances and human resources of the board,likely until October when school board elections are held.

Last year,the ministerordered the board to rewrite its code of ethics so that members must be respectful of others.

The latest controversy involves vice-chair Mike Brown.

On Wednesday, the board voted against disciplining Brown for swearing and walking out of a meeting earlier this month.

Allow for suspension of rogue members: Samson

Liberal MLA Michel Samson suggests one way to deal with the problems at the Strait board is to change thelaw to allow for the suspension of school board members.

"We're looking for the minister to bring amendments that will either give herself or the boards themselves the ability to be able toeither suspend or take action against rogue board members," Samson said Thursday.

The Strait board was stripped of its powers in 2002, after auditors uncovered significant spending irregularities.

Casey disbanded the Halifax Regional School Board in December 2006, saying the constant squabbling was preventing the board from doing its job. She appointed retired bureaucrat Howard Windsor to act as a one-man board.