Declaration of the Ville de Montréal and the school boards located on its territory for a renewed partnership in the development of the school network

MONTREAL, July 6, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Following an invitation by the Mayor of Montréal, representatives of the city's five school boards took part in a productive working meeting on June 29.

At the end of the meeting, the participants issued the following statement:

"The Ville de Montréal and the five school boards located on its territory are engaging in a new era of collaboration, thus creating a renewed partnership that will better reflect and meet the needs of Montréal's children and families.

The city and the school boards on the Island of Montréal recognize the urgency of the needs in education and the importance of the challenges to be met. These common challenges are related not only to aging infrastructure, but also to the consequences of demographic changes in the short and medium term. We recognize our shared responsibility in identifying solutions and mechanisms to provide the best possible environment for our children.

The population of Montréal expects its elected representatives, regardless of the level of government, to work together to identify and implement the necessary solutions in the short, medium and long term. We also recognize that our actions must be carried out with respect to the territory's diversity and the feeling of belonging to each community.

As a result of these discussions, the city and the school boards agreed to work together to improve and harmonize their practices in terms of land use planning, real estate strategies and infrastructure sharing.

From now on, local actors responsible for ensuring the development of a healthy and stimulating educational environment will speak with one voice. The city and the school boards of the Island of Montréal agree to define concerted demands to be delivered to the provincial government for the improvement of educational services. In this perspective, we ask our government partner, given the specific context in Montréal, to provide more flexible rules concerning relations between municipalities and school boards in regards, for example, to real estate issues.

Finally, we have agreed to perpetuate meetings with elected officials, as well as between the respective administrative authorities, in order to maintain this partnership."

Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montréal
Benoit Dorais, Executive Committee Chair
Rosannie Filato, responsible for social and community development, homelessness, youth, sports and recreation
Tommy Kulczyk, Commissioner for Children, Montréal
Miville Boudreault, Chair, Commission scolaire de la Pointe-de-l'Île
Catherine Harel Bourdon, Chair, Commission scolaire de Montréal
Diane Lamarche-Venne, Chair, Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys
Noel Burke, Chair, Lester-B.-Pearson School Board
Sylvia Lo Bianco, Vice-Chair, English Montréal School Board

SOURCE Ville de Montréal - Cabinet de la mairesse et du comité exécutif

Youssef Amane, attaché de presse du comité exécutif, Cabinet de la mairesse et du comité exécutif, 438 832-1221