DISTRICT EDUCATION COUNCILS
MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THE CHILDREN OF NEW BRUNSWICK

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EDUCATION IN NEW BRUNSWICK

In December 2000, An Act to Amend the Education Act, was passed changing the governance structure, redistributing responsibilities and the balance of authority between the Minister of Education and the new local governing bodies called

District Education Councils (DEC)

WHAT IS A DISTRICT EDUCATION COUNCIL (DEC)?

• Has legal status - are bodies corporate under law, can sue and be sued
• Is comprised of volunteers elected to four-year terms
• Acts as a strong single body, making decisions as a whole, but speaking as one through the Chair
• Is responsible for all school operations in their district
• Cannot run deficits or borrow funds from external sources
• May have Minister-appointed representatives of the Mi’kmaq or Maliseet First Nation in designated areas

MINISTER/DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - OVERVIEW

• Sets provincial education and service standards
• Monitors to ensure provincial policies are implemented and followed

DISTRICT EDUCATION COUNCIL - OVERVIEW

• Focus on education issues
• Develop policy detailing goals and expectations for the district
• Monitor the results

SUPERINTENDENT - OVERVIEW

• “Sole employee” of the District Education Council
• Accountable for achieving the DEC’s goals

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES - MINISTER/DEPARTMENT

• Establish the school calendar and curriculum
• Set provincial standards
• Develop provincial budgets, establish guidelines for expenditures
• Pupil transportation
• Provincial examinations and evaluations
• Teacher certification and contract negotiations
• Education facilities
• Veto power over District Education Council decisions

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES – DISTRICT EDUCATION COUNCIL

• Hire, direct, and evaluate the Superintendent
• Develop district policies using policy governance model
• Review/monitor/update annually the district education plan and report publicly
• Review/monitor the district expenditure plan, using provincial accounting systems
• Facilitate community use of schools
• Have some local curriculum flexibility
• Initiate school establishment and closures
• Maintain linkages, provide training for Parent School Support Committees (PSSC)
• Review District Performance Report
• Determine capital project priorities
• Review School Improvement and Performance Reports for each school in their district
• Oversee trust funds

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES - SUPERINTENDENT

• Day-to-day administration and operation of district and schools
• Manage and report the District Expenditure Plan
• Prepare District Education Plan for review
• Hire, direct, and evaluate district and school staff
• Implement provincial and district policies
• Determine the bus routes
• Prepare the District Performance Report
• Determine placement of students, teacher and teacher-aide assignments
• Develop local courses

DEC MEETINGS

• Are generally held every 4-6 weeks during the school year
• Generally only one meeting is held during July/August
• Members take office on July 1st following their election, serving for four years until June 30th of the year of the next election

PROVINCIAL FORUMS

• Meetings are held 2-4 times per year
• Are for information sharing and discussion of provincial issues, concerns, initiatives
• Friday evening meeting - DEC Chairs and Superintendents discuss issues of common concern, set agendas
• Saturday meetings include Minister, Deputy, Assistant Deputy, other government officials as may be invited, DEC Chairs (or designates), Superintendents (or designates), and the DEC Administrative Manager
• May include presentations from parties of interest to the group

DEC ADMINISTRATOR

• Support staff for District Education Councils, reporting to DEC Chairs
• Salary, benefits and office space provided by Department of Education
• Focuses on information sharing and communications between education partners
• Coordinates training opportunities for DECs, PSSCs, and annual DEC Member Symposium

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION

We are all partners in the education of our children – the Ministry of Education, District Education Councils, Parent School Support Committees, parents, teachers, district and school staff, and most especially our students.

We are working to build a world-class public education system, aspiring to excellence and achievement at all times.

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