Halifax Regional Centre for Education explained

Halifax Regional Centre for Education
Logo Alt:HRSB logo
Address:33 Spectacle Lake Drive
City:Dartmouth
Province:Nova Scotia
Country:Canada
Postcode:B3B 1X7
Type:Public
Grades:PP-12
Established:1996
Superintendent Type:Regional Executive Director of Education
Superintendent:Steve Gallagher[1]
Deputy Superintendent:-->
Accreditation:-->
Schools:137
Budget:$687 million [2]
Students:58,258 (2023–24)[3]
Staff:11,000 (approx)
Colours:-->
Free Label:Mission Statement
Free Text:Providing a high quality education for every student every day.

The Halifax Regional Centre for Education (formerly the Halifax Regional School Board)[4] is the public school district responsible for 136 elementary, junior high, and high schools located in the Halifax Regional Municipality. The current Regional Executive Director is Steve Gallagher. The district's office is on Spectacle Lake Drive in Dartmouth. The district's stated vision is "to provide a high quality education to every student every day". On January 24, 2018, the provincial government announced that the Halifax Regional School Board would be dissolved and that kindergarten to grade 12 education services in Halifax would administered by an appointed provincial council. The Halifa Regional School Board was dissolved on March 31, 2018.[5]

History

The Halifax Regional School Board was created in 1996 with the amalgamation of three school boards that had jurisdiction over the former components of the Halifax Regional Municipality, which was created at the same time.[6] Board elections have taken place in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

2006 board dismissal

On December 19, 2006, the Minister of Education, Karen Casey, dismissed all 13 members of the board due to interpersonal conflicts and having failed to comply with their Code of Ethics. The minister stated, "This board has failed to meet the performance standards set out under Section 64 (6) of the Education Act. Sec. 64 states that a school board, in carrying out its responsibilities under this act, shall meet education program services and performance standards established by the minister."[7] Seven of the former Halifax Regional School Board members are considering legal action against the government for disbanding the elected group.[8]

Howard Windsor, a former deputy minister, was appointed to act as the board until the municipal elections took place in October 2008.[9] Mr. Windsor decided to discontinue their yearly stipends of $8,200, stating: "I respect the work done by the previous board members, but I see no reason to continue to pay them when they have neither the responsibility nor the authority to act on the public’s behalf."[10] Windsor was replaced by a nine-member elected Board during regularly scheduled elections in 2008.

2018 dissolution

On January 23, 2018, education consultant Avis Glaze presented a report on the province's school system to government that included the recommendation that the seven elected regional school boards become regional education offices overseen by appointed provincial advisory council.[11] On January 24, 2018, the provincial government announced it accepted the recommendation and the Halifax Regional School Board and six other school boards would be dissolved though no date for dissolution was then announced.[12] The elected school board was dissolved on March 31, 2018.[5]

Personnel

Superintendents

Regional Executive Director

Schools

High schools

Junior high schools

Elementary schools

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Office of the Regional Executive Director. Halifax Regional Centre for Education. 6 October 2022.
  2. Web site: Financial Services. Halifax Regional Centre for Education. 6 October 2022.
  3. Web site: Financial Services. Halifax Regional Centre for Education. 4 January 2024.
  4. Web site: HRSB's New Name: Halifax Regional Centre for Education Halifax Regional School Board. www.hrsb.ca. 2018-03-31. 2018-04-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20180401144519/https://www.hrsb.ca/news/2018/03/27/hrsbs-new-name-halifax-regional-centre-education. dead.
  5. News: Halifax school board members 'sad and disappointed' at last meeting CBC News. CBC. 2018-03-31.
  6. Web site: About Us. Halifax Regional Centre for Education. 4 January 2024.
  7. News: Squabbling costs school board members their jobs. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. December 19, 2006. November 17, 2008.
  8. News: Fired school board members ponder lawsuit. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. December 21, 2006. November 17, 2008.
  9. News: Kimber. Stephen. Class dismissed. The Coast. 2 October 2008.
  10. Web site: Stipends Discontinued for Former HRSB Members. Halifax Regional School Board. 29 January 2007. 14 September 2015. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094311/http://www.hrsb.ca/sites/default/files/hrsb/Downloads/pdf/news/2006-2007/stipends.pdf. dead.
  11. Web site: Report recommends scrapping most N.S. school boards, says system isn’t working. Global Television. June 23, 2018.
  12. Web site: Nova Scotia to dissolve elected school boards in favour of advisory council. Global Television. June 23, 2018.