the process. This enabling legislation will pave the way to the creation of a provincial francophone school board. These two steps complete the initial phase of the project.

PRIOR TO BUILDING

A house cannot be built in a day; neither can a school board. First the Minister of Education will form the Francophone Governance Advisory Council which will bring together different education partners (see diagram). This council will act as the architect who draws up the plans of the house. It will prepare the way for the Transitional Francophone School Board.

The normal operation of the present school system will not be affected during the transition period from 1993 to September 1995. The transition will occur mostly at the administrative and political levels. This means that this transition period will not disturb services presently offered in the school. Anglophone school districts will still be responsible for transportation, learning assistance, mesures d’accueil and other serv- ices.

Full responsibility for education in French as a first language will not be transferred to the Francophone School Board until September 1995. Till

SPECIAL EDITION FRANCOPHONE SCHOOL GOVERNANCE jung 1993

then, school life will go on undisturbed. Next year, Programme cadre will still be under the present school board's responsibility. Building a new house does not mean the old one crumbles and disappears. The Francophone School Board will evolve in parallel with the system now in place.

BUILDING STARTS

The foundations of the Francophone School Board will be laid step by step, piece by piece by the Transitional School Board (see diagram 1). This board will enter into contractual agreements with anglophone school districts for the rental of facilities and equipment, provision of transportation and other services. The board will alsodevelop appropriate terms of employment for teach- ers and will contract for teacher services from existing boards and hire administra-

Diagram

In accordance with its constitutional responsibility, the Ministry of Educa- tion oversees the whole process.

The Advisory Council will include officials of the Minis- try of Education ( Policy, Planning and Legislation Di- vision, Finance Division, Language and Multicultural Programs Branch and the

Francophone governance advisory council

Ministry of Education

Education Partners

Policy, Planning | APFCB (parents)

b Ministry of Education

new administrative struc- ture which will be responsi- ble for education in French as a first language) and the principal education part- ners: francophone parents, the francophone commu- nity , school trustees, su- perintendents, teachers, school principals and vice- principals, and secretary- treasurers. The Advisory Council will play a key role in preparing for the imple- mentation of francophone school governance and will advise the Transitional School Board.

and Legislation Division Finance Division

Educational Programs Department

Languages and Multicultural Programs Branch

New. administrative structure

FRCS. (community)

Schooltrustees (BCSTD) Surperintendents (BCSSA) Teachers (BCTF)

Pri eee (BCVPPA) Secretary-

Treasurers (BCSDSTA)

The transitional school board’s main task will be to coordinate the implementa- tion process province wide. It will enter into contractual agreements with an- glophone school districts andin collaboration with the Ministry of Education will plan and arrange forthe transfer of responsibilities; hirethe ad- ministrativeandteaching staff for the future school board; reviewthepreliminary imple- mentation budget and de- fine the services it will offer.

TRANSITIONAL FRANCOPHONE SCHOOL BOARD (included nominated trustees)

FRANCOPHONE SCHOOL BOARD

The Francophone School Board will conform to legal requirements as defined in the School Act. It will have the same powers and responsibilities as the existing school district, except for the power of taxation andthe area under its jurisdiction (province wide).