General secretary of the Bermuda Union of Teachers Sen. Milton Scott said it is important that teachers, as well as their unions, be consulted in relation to the establishment of community-based school boards.

Sen. Scott was responding to statements made by Education Minister the Hon.

Clarence Terceira who spoke at the Hamilton Lions Club luncheon on Wednesday.

Dr. Terceira stated that school boards were the most important change in Bermuda's education system and they represented a "decentralisation of our system.'' He added: "It is moving much of the management of the schools from the Department of Education and giving that part to the community.'' Dr. Terceira also said that the boards would likely be given executive authority in areas of finance and management of the facilities. And they would also play a key role and assist principals and teachers in the matter of discipline.

However, Sen. Scott said that Dr. Terceira was "talking about decentralisation but yet more central office staff are being employed.'' He added that the issue that needed to be discussed was who would pick the members of the board and will the members on these school boards represent the community in which these schools exist.

"We recognise that the Education Planning Team recommended that school boards should be established for every school,'' Sen. Scott said. "But we in the union have never taken a position on school boards as they relate to the running of individual schools.

"Why we have not taken a position is because the Ministry of Education has never made a commitment to many of the Education Planning Team recommendations.

"I would take any effort to enhance community involvement in the running of our school system. It is welcomed by the BUT.'' Sen. Scott said the question of whether they be appointed or elected school boards needed to be answered. "When all the issues pertaining to the appointment of school boards are addressed then the BUT will be in a better position to give a comprehensive statement on school boards.'' He added that the matters which Dr. Terceira described as being part of the responsibilities of school boards had a direct bearing on the current collective agreement between the BUT and Government.

"We thought he should have at least discussed the matter with us prior to going public. However, this is indicative of the manner in which the Ministry of Education is run,'' Sen. Scott said.

SENATOR MILTON SCOTT -- The BUT general secretary is calling for greater consultation.