Chair of the Council of Commissioners

Chairman's Message 2023-2024
 

As Chairman of the Council of Commissioners, it is with great pride that I wish our students, their parents, as well as all of the members of our dedicated staff, a successful 2023-2024 school year. Rest assured that all of our schools are ready and eager to welcome your children in a safe environment conducive to learning.

To those who are new to the CQSB, allow me to inform you of our school board's motto ''Learning for All''. These three words have been, and will continue to be, the motivation behind all of our decisions. The success of each and every student is what we strive to ensure through the many actions that we take during any particular year. With the unwavering dedication of a competent and enthusiastic CQSB TEAM of teachers, professionals, principals, support staff, board administrators and, of course, the Council of Commissioners, our students have achieved, year after year, enviable results in ministerial exams. The CQSB’s high graduation and qualification rates rank us among the best school boards in the province. Our students’ results on the June ministerial exams place them among the top three (3) school boards and school service centers of the province (which includes the 9 English langue School Boards and the 60 French language service centers)! Excellence continues to be a CQSB trademark and we will continue to ensure that our students maintain their high academic success. To the parents of our new students, allow me to say that you have made a wise decision in choosing our schools.

To those who are already members of the CQSB school communities, we say WELCOME BACK! We thank you for your constant support to your children and to our schools. With your cooperation and understanding, the hard work of our students, as well as the experience and dedication of our staff, we will continue to provide the quality educational services which have made our schools and Learning Centres among the best in Québec.

On the political scene, I am pleased to inform you that last August 2nd, Judge Sylvain Lussier, of the Superior Court of Québec, rendered an historical decision as he confirmed that Bill 40, an Act that amends the Education Act concerning school organization and governance, is unconstitutional and can not apply to the English school network.

As you may recall, Bill 40 was adopted by the National Assembly in the early hours of February 8, 2020 and immediately terminated the 60 French-language school boards of the province. The English-language school boards managed to obtain an injunction and brought the government to court on the basis that this legislation is unconstitutional. Judge Lussier’s decision confirms that many provisions of Bill 40 do not respect our rights, as guaranteed by section 23 of the Canadian Constitution.

It is our hope that the government will not appeal this decision, but if need be we will continue to defend our right to manage and control our English-language school network. We will keep you informed through the CQSB website, as well as the Québec Chronicle-Telegraph, CBC Radio and the local French media.

Par ailleurs, je tiens à rassurer tous nos parents relativement à l'importance que nous accordons à l'apprentissage du français dans chacune de nos écoles. En effet, notre but est de faire de nos élèves des citoyens qui pourront s'exprimer de façon claire et précise dans chacune des deux langues officielles de notre grand pays, le Canada.

May the 2023-2024 school year be a safe, healthy and promising year for all!

STEPHEN BURKE

Chairman of the Council of Commissioners
August 24^th, 2023