“The Public Has Lost Their Voice”: Who Benefits When Elected School Boards Are Eliminated?

• In Event: Perspectives on School Board Power and Political Activism

Abstract

Several Canadian provinces have recently eliminated elected school boards, while others continue to debate their proper role. Utilizing elite interviews and document analysis, a case study was constructed on the dissolution of elected school boards in the province of Nova Scotia. Findings include that the elimination of school boards was driven by past frustrations with school boards among key policy actors, as well as a desire to centralize more control over schools in the hands of the provincial government. Since the elimination of boards, officials within the provincial department of education, as well as administrators working within school districts have seen their power grow. However, this has come at the expense of the broader public, particularly those from marginalized communities.

Authors

• Sachin Maharaj, University of Ottawa

• Meg Garrard, University of Ottawa