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Halifax Regional School Board

A Halifax city councillor has called for the province to take over the management of the Halifax Regional School Board after the second controversial/childish (you pick) incident in as many months. The first time it was Doug Sparks who disagreed with the location of his new chair. Apparently, he felt that his new seat was not as dignified as his previous, and that he had a Charter right to sit anywhere he pleased. I haven't done it yet, but I'd be willing to bet that if you search the Charter of Rights and Freedoms for "sit where you like" you'll find as many references as "shut the fuck up, dipshit".

This time it is Peggy Draper, who, contrary to the rules missed three monthly sessions in a row, two apparently for business and one for illness. Interestingly enough, one of her fellow members and supporter missed the meeting for illness and his vote would have been enough to break the tie. The fact that she declared bankruptcy without telling the board a few years back, also against the rules, probably played against her.

There was a plan after the Sparks incident to call in a mediator to help the Board iron out its differences and get back on track.

If "call in an external mediator" is politicspeak for "grow the fuck up", I'm all for it. However, I gotta think that these things don't come free and it should come right out of Board salaries, because I'd hate to think that the money could have been otherwise spent on, I don't know, schools or something.

The province should definitely step in here, if not to manage, at least to clean house and call another election. I'm not sure if they can or not. These people have important work to do and if they can't get off their asses to show up and do it, or can't shut their pieholes about where to put their asses, then they should have to defend themselves in a re-election and soon.

[update - 24 Feb 8:45 AM] The provincial Education Minister Jamie Muir will order the members of the Board into mediation immediately to settle their "differences". Meanwhile, Peggy Draper is sulking to her lawyer. Good luck with the remediation! Good luck next election, Peggy!

OK, I'm confused - are these people on the school board or in the Kindergarten Class? Actually, a mediator might not cost that much, if you choose the right one. Is there a Catholic Private School in the City? Just have one of their Nuns come over with a ruler and issue a good round of thwacks upside the head...

I am soooo glad I am not part of that school bored! Whew! I am sure my school board in edmonton is probably as fucked up in its internal workings, however, they sure know how to negotiate a contract! And you are right that it will cost the School Bored (not from the Bored's salaries of course)lots o'dough to "mediate" these cry babies who hide behind rights and refuse to own up to responsibilities, which come hand-in-hand with those rights! I hope the entire board there collapses and a new board rises from its manure-burnt ashes. The students and teachers need this to happen!
Once again I am very happy to be away from that 'bored'.

Paul - you are well out of it, indeed.

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