Opinion: Yes, we need former educators to serve as school trustees

Re. “Boards must guard against conflicts of interest,” Opinion, Jan. 30 

I read Bridget Stirling’s opinion piece with concern. In the spirit of transparency, I am the former chief communications officer for Edmonton Public Schools, now enjoying a blissful retirement.

Ms. Stirling questions whether retired members of an organization should be “permitted” to serve on that organization’s governance body or, at the very least, whether they should only be “permitted” to serve after a “cooling-off period.” Ms. Stirling further questions whether retired members of Edmonton Public Schools have the ability, and I quote, “to provide effective governance.”

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Ms. Stirling refers specifically to three current trustees who are retired principals. Through heavy inference, Ms. Stirling suggests that the former principals’ “close relationships with the superintendent’s office and other division leadership” make their roles as impartial governors of the organization suspect at best. At worst, she casts doubt on their competence to establish boundaries between the trusteeship and administration.

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Putting aside for a moment the democratic implications of the prohibitions Ms. Stirling suggests, it is deeply concerning to me that she would question the agendas and characters of people who have dedicated their entire careers to the service of children. That somehow, as trustees, retired principals would be so aligned with administration, that they would put that loyalty above what’s best for kids.

Further, it suggests that administration has some agenda other than what’s best for kids. Astonishing. Are not decades of experience educating children an asset to the board in fulfilling its mandate? Are they not, in fact, in a better position to assess and question the administration’s activities and their potential impact on children and on schools?

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The inference that the administration of Edmonton Public Schools is an enemy the board must guard against is erroneous, divisive and, quite frankly, alarmist. This kind of demonization of educational experts and devoted public servants, whether they be trustees or members of administration, is exactly the kind of destructive rhetoric we’re seeing south of the border.

Do we need educators on the school board of trustees? Yes. Do we need parents on the board? Yes. Do we need business people on the board? Yes. Children represent the future of our society and, consequently, the board should represent the whole of society. It’s about balance. It’s also about collaboration and teamwork. Suggesting that some people don’t belong on the board of trustees because they are former employees is, simply put, discriminatory.

Lisa Austin is the the former chief communications officer of Edmonton Public Schools (now retired) who served with the division for 20 years.

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