Parental involvement in the running of schools would prove a blessing rather than an extra burden, according to PTA heads.Presidents of PTAs from two schools at the centre of controversy over involuntary teacher transfers spoke to The Royal Gazette following an announcement by Education Minister Nalton Brangman for an overhaul of the Education Act scrapping school boards of Government-run institutions.Justifying the move, Senator Brangman said a court order requiring his Ministry to consult with teachers on the management of the public education system would put the groups on a par with boards — thus making administration of schools “far more difficult”.Consequently, the Ministry will open itself to public consultation on how to rework the act.Sen Brangman said the preferred option was to have school advisory councils instead of boards — and a memorandum of understanding to govern parental participation in school improvement.However, Victor Scott Primary School PTA head Azuhaa Coleman last night said she felt “disappointed” by the proposal.Her school, along with TN Tatem Middle School, successfully challenged the involuntary transfers of its principal last year in the Supreme Court — and Ms Coleman said she was prepared to continue the fight.“As a parent, I feel as if the Ministry of Education is telling me that my children aren't worth the time and effort to do things right instead of cutting corners,” she said. “This school advisory council is just a short cut. It allows the Ministry to once again take the little power a parent has over his child.”She added: “As a tax payer, I feel cheated. But as a Bermudian, I know my rights.”Parental involvement in school management stood to save money, she said.“Having a board of governors allows PTAs to be consulted on major decisions that affect our children's education — and the best part is that our opinions are free.”She also disputed the Minister's claim that more than 100 transfers went through last year without any objections made.“This just shows the public exactly how oblivious they really are when it comes to the concerns of the majority,” Ms Coleman said.“Sen Brangman states that he believes that Bermuda's already busy parents do not want to take on the responsibilities that comes with being consulted? This is what the PTAs are for. The parents represent the children and the PTAs represent the parents. There is no specific responsibility falling on any specific parent.”Another challenge for the Ministry was the proposed transfer of a popular educator from West Pembroke Primary — which was rescinded, along with other transfers, after an outcry from parents.West Pembroke PTA head Renee Dill maintained that involving PTAs with school boards would have been “correct, and the right thing to do”.“Bermuda is small. Most parents work two or three jobs so it's almost impossible to get any one parent to commit to such a huge responsibility every school year,” she said.“But with a PTA, you have close to ten parents and teachers who graciously volunteer their time, are involved in the schools' everyday activities, working close together and supporting each other for one cause: getting the best education for Bermuda's children.”Ms Dill added: “PTAs should be consulted and not be in charge of running of any school. We are not here to have the final say, but we should be allowed to have some input.”She also questioned the logic of teacher transfers as promoting professional development.“The Ministry's ideas are valid, but can go about in a different way than a teacher transfer,” she said, suggesting “teacher workshops, teacher mentorships, teacher internal and external training” to boost performance.