Troubles persist for Comox Valley board of education - Report Card

Comox Valley school trustees have had difficulties getting along since the last election.

In 2010, they sought assistance from Sprott Consulting and later, on advice from that company, hired Stacey Holloway of Holloway Zaiser to help them with "collaboration, teamwork and confidence in report."

I posted about this in March , noting that the board was paying the facilitator, unnamed at the time, $25,000 (a figure that apparently climbed to $30,000).

The board has released the Holloway's report along with a statement that begins: " Over the past 2 1/2 years, the Comox Valley School District has gone from a period of challenges and uncertainties to a time of stability and excitement about the future ."

And later: " Despite the predictable interpersonal challenges that arise when any group of leaders work together, we have completed some great work for the benefit of students, staff and their families in SD7 1."

Voters will be the judge in November. Meanwhile, read the full story in the Comox Valley Echo here .

Reporter Tamara Cunningham writes that Holloway " recommends a code of conduct for trustees, more workshops on roles and responsibilities and a conflict of interest policy to avoid even an appearance of bias. She also warns if relationships at the board table don't improve, the province may have to hire an official trustee to take over decision-making and recommends an open debate about last year's operational review.

Holloway's report is on the school district website .

Considering this school district has gone from complete anarchy (lack of accountability) to one where there is hope for change - I'm looking for what the issues are that are blocking the progress.  A few people that should never have been allowed to continue have retired, and a few new faces have emerged.  If we can extract any of the "business as usual" and move ISSUES to a fact-based discussion that is viewed from a higher standard, what's the barrier?