N.L. English school district to be integrated into Department of Education

The provincial government is ridding itself of a Crown corporation.

But it wasn't Nalcor named in the 2021 budget.

As part of its “Change starts here” fiscal plan, Premier Andrew Furey and the Liberals announced they will integrate the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District (NLESD) into the province's Department of Education.

“We've made that decision to eliminate that Crown corporation to bring it into the department to look for operational deficiencies or fiscal efficiencies. We haven't yet made that decision with the francophone district,” said Osborne, noting it's too early to tell how the efficiencies can be achieved or whether it will result in job losses.

“Bringing the district into the department will allow a stronger approach to the educational outcomes we need.”

The full transition is expected to take about 12 to 18 months.

“It is a big move. We have our work cut out for us, quite frankly,” Osborne said.

Osborne said he can't put an amount on the operational efficiencies, but he said the province's education budget in the last 20 years has doubled with less-thansatisfactory outcomes.

“I can't say we've seen a corresponding result in outcomes,” said Osborne, who said the province lags in Canada in areas of critical and deep thinking.

“So, any savings we find as a result of bringing the NLESD into government will not simply go to general revenue. They will go to the classroom to improve educational outcomes in this province. We need to become better at our educational outcomes … This province is not as far progressed as other provinces.”

That will include modernizing the junior high and high school curriculum and creating alignment with emerging workforce demands.

Osborne said the NLESD services 65,000 students and there are considerable opportunities for operational and fiscal efficiencies.

The Francophone district, meanwhile, services 350 students.

“So, we may be better looking at a different approach there and just doing a deep dive in operational and fiscal efficiencies within the existing structure,” said Osborne, adding there are some constitutional considerations to be made.

“So, if we can accomplish what needs to be accomplished under the existing structure of the Francophone school district as opposed to trying to climb the tangled web of the constitutional obligations, I'm satisfied as long as we have the outcome that needs to be achieved.”

NLESD president Tony Stack said he's a little surprised at the pace of the transition but is glad it will give them time to process.

“Right from the inception of the district, we have always focused on what is right for students,” he said.

“So, knowing that we have time to work through those things so that we don't lose sight of aspects that do support student learning and we can do that right now.”

Dean Ingram, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association, said the integration of the NLESD in the Department of Education can't come at the expense of downloading tasks — which had been the district's responsibilities — onto school administrators.

“School administrators and staff already have a plate that is overburdened and full …,” he said. “We have a lot of unanswered questions and we'll be seeking clarity on those questions in the coming days.”

Ingram was happy to see some positive investments for public K-12 education, such as retaining school administrative allocations and guidance counsellor positions, but he said it needs to be retained beyond that.

“Over the course of the provincial election, assurances were given regarding K-12 education,” he said. “Parents, students, teachers and other educational staff deserve to see these commitments honoured.”