Strait Regional School Board stripped of powers

Nova Scotia's minister of education stripped the Strait Regional School Board of some of its powers Monday, accusing its members of acting irresponsibly.

Karen Casey appointed a former university professor to temporarily manage the finances and human resourcesof the board, which oversees schools in Antigonish and Guysborough counties on the mainland of Nova Scotia and in Inverness and Richmond counties on Cape Breton Island.

John Sears, a former professor and vice-president academic at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, will take over those responsibilities likely until next October, when school board elections are scheduled.

It is expectedSears will form an advisory group of former board chairs to assist him.

Elected members willmaintain responsibility over schools and program, Casey said.

The step was necessary, she said,because the board was not managing its affairs responsibly.

"This is not a step I take lightly," Casey said. "But after meeting with board members directly on Wednesday, I have formed the opinion that the board is not managing its duties under the Education Act in a responsible manner."

Minister ordered board to adoptcode of ethics

Casey would not go into details about why she made this decision, but last year she wrote to the board and orderedit to bring in a code of ethics saying members were missing meetings and not acting with respect.

Earlier this month, the board threatened to overturn an external review of its superintendent, Phonse Gillis, because they didn't like the way it was carried out.

There has also been a prolonged debate on the board over the introduction of youth health centres into schools.

This is the second time the Strait Regional Board has been stripped of its powers. The first time was in 2002 after major spending irregularities were uncovered at the board.

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

Last year, Casey disbanded the Halifax Regional School Board after it was paralyzed by infighting among members. The province appointed retired civil servant Howard Windsor to act as a one-man board.