As previously stated, I will present my platform using an alphabetical format: ….. A: is for ANACHRONISTIC : belonging to another time ; out-of-date ARROGANCE: “showing proud self importance and contempt or disregard for others” (Microsoft Encarta College Dictionary) … AMERESCO: In April […]
Monthly Archives: August 2014
LBPSB Budget and Joe Public On Saturday, August 23, 2014, the Lester B. Pearson School Board held a special workshop devoted to the 2014-2015 Budget, in preparation, for its adoption at the upcoming Council Meeting in two days. Yesterday, there were two well-planned events, which were viewed by many people […]
The Gazette Retired school teacher Chris Eustace is running for Lester B. Pearson school board chairman. April 25, 2014 Photograph by: Peter McCabe, The Gazette
Perhaps it was that day I decided to be a teacher The Montreal Gazette December 17, 2009 This tale took place outside a pub near the Ngorongoro Crater, which was situated not far from Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanganyika, East Africa, and happened during the holiday season in 1954. After WWII, […]
National Post Mon. June 9, 2014 Section: Letters Love of Learning Not a day goes by when I don’t think of my father, who instilled in me a love of reading and learning. My dad taught me to read my first book, The Children’s Illustrated Encyclopaedia […]
“School boards should accept criticism… it is a sign of respect.” In February 2014, the Quebec English School Boards Association, invited former Education Minister Michelle Courchesne to one of its “Commissioner Readiness” events promoting the school board elections slated for Nov. 2014. Creator of Bill 88, in 2008, which […]
Last Monday, August 26, 2013, was the sixth time over the past 15 years, the Lester B. Pearson School Board Council of Commissioners, refused to hear any talk to withdraw its membership from the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA), thus saving a minimum of about $350,000 to invest in the Board’s schools. I asked the board to seriously consider holding a public debate, followed by a referendum, on the issue of our membership to the QESBA, whose main preoccupation, it seems, is to sound important at […]
Montreal Gazette Public schools need ombudsmen Thursday, April 14, 2005 Section: Editorial / Op-Ed I was saddened and angered to read your April 6 letter, “Pearson board needs threat policy.” The thrust of the letter from Stephanie (surname withheld) was praise for the way John Rennie High School was […]
August 24, 2014 ( The following story explains why I wish to put the Kids Help Phone link on the LBPSB homepage. The Pearson board has refused.) Montreal Gazette Thursday, February 15, 2007 Section: West Island: Voices Of The Community Letter to the Editor Counter youth suicide with education Feb. 6 was the […]
Pearson’s view on class size troubling – Letter to the editor The Montreal Gazette AUGUST 28, 2008 Earlier this year, Education Minister Michelle Courchesne announced a worthy goal that aimed at reducing class size. For starters, hire 1,000 more teachers, principally focussed on helping students with special needs, and producing […]
Compliments to reporters Joel Ceausu and Robert Frank for their educational pieces concerning the school board elections slated for Nov. 2, in the July 30 issue of The Suburban titled: “2014: Where we’ve been …. and where we’re going.”Their articles are a follow up to their joint piece in the Jan. 1 issue: “School board elections present hope for […]
Extra information on school taxes in the following article. Note the comments following the piece : How to pay property taxes in Montreal: Municipal tax and school tax http://uscitizenmovestocanada.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-pay-property-taxes-in-montreal.html
The Following are two excerpts from the Minutes of the Montreal Island School Tax Committee They are from the Public Question Periods of April 2013 and May 2014. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE SCHOOL TAX ISLAND OF MONTREAL 14. PUBLIC QUESTION PERIOD April 11, 2013 Chris Eustace Pierrefonds expresses its concerns with Concerning […]
The Gazette Impressed by Couillard Wed Mar 12 2014 Re: “Eliminate jobs, not school boards: Couillard” (Gazette Online, March 10) Kudos to Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard for taking a plank from François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec’s education platform to reduce the education bureaucracy at the provincial level. Both parties […]
Dear Editor: Since last week’s win in the Quebec election of Liberal leader Philippe Couillard , there has been an article , a press release (both April 8), and an opinion piece pertaining to the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA). The three write-ups, in essence, ask the new government […]
Have you ever heard of the expression : “No comments from the peanut gallery?” On April 28, 2014, I attended the Lester B. Pearson School Board Council of Commissioners Meeting. I was strictly there as an observer because I am still barred – 5 months now – from asking questions at the […]
After submitting my questions and comments in writing, I attended the May 8 meeting of the School Tax Committee, known also by its French acronym, CGTSIM (cgtsim.qc.ca).I wanted to ascertain how much our school taxes would be hiked this year, and repeat a recommendation: School boards should get out of the […]
Gazette Vaudreuil-Soulanges June 4, 2014 At the May 26, 2014, Lester B. Pearson School Board Council of Commissioners Meeting, Chairperson Suanne Stein Day (SSD) assigned a commissioner to be the timekeeper of one of the new rules regarding the Public Question Period. You may recall the new rules, which were […]
(After waiting almost three months since I was barred to speak at Council, I hired a lawyer to fight for my democratic right to speak at Council. ) Subject : Formal notice Madam Stein Day, We are the lawyers for Mister Chris Eustace. Our client has informed us that the […]
Me Martin, We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February 12, 2014. Please be advised that we are mandated to represent Mrs. Stein Day, Chairman of the Lester B. Pearson School Board, in the present matter. As you are probably aware, as Chairman of the Board, it is […]
(This is a final attempt.) Object: The rights of Mister Chris Eustace Maitre Hamel, The Quebec Education Act grants our client at section 168 the right to ask questions to the Board at the public meetings. Section 220.1 establishes that the commissioners must present the content of an annual report […]
School board withdraws from association Denounces exit bonus By Joel Ceausu The Suburban Quebec’s second largest school board is severing ties with the Quebec Federation of School Commissions (FCSQ). The Commission scolaire Marguerite- Bourgeoys (CSMB) announced last week that it is withdrawing from the federation that groups 61 French school […]
Quebec Treasury Board President Martin Coiteux is blasting school boards for lavish spending. The newly-elected West Island Nelligan MNA expressed outrage that 150 school board commissioners are on an all-expenses-paid trip to the Chateau Montebello from midweek to Saturday. “I’m calling on their better judgment. I’m calling on the directors […]
The Gazette August 28, 2013 Is there still a reason for public school fees? As students return to ” class this week, parents will undoubtedly be expected to shell out a pretty penny for school fees, charged at most public schools for some school materials and […]
The Gazette Kudos for blasting school board spending Montreal Gazette Wed May 21 2014 Section: West Island Kudos to Quebec Treasury Board President Martin Coiteux for blasting school boards for their lavish spending at their convention in a posh resort. According to a May 16 Canadian Press […]
The Gazette April 13, 2011 Parents rock! Re: “Review closings, EMSB urged” (Gazette, April 11). Bravo to English Montreal School Board parent commissioners Angie Bertone and Gail Giannakas for new hope for parents worried about proposals on school closings, mergers and relocations. Add Linda Perez, head of […]
June 6, 2014 Re: “Will anti-school-board school board candidate work to eliminate the board?” ( Online Letters, May 30) Mary Fabian is “curious” and “confused” regarding my intentions behind my quest to be the next chairman of the Lester B. Pearson School Board, considering I have been critical of boards […]
The enemy of school board democracy is school board secrecy. Last Monday, the Lester B. Pearson School Board held its second to last Executive Committee meeting of its mandate before the Nov. 2 school board elections. It was not webcast; I was the ‘public.’ Moreover, going on eight months, I’m […]