Bluewater District School Board’s chair and education director are going to Korea next month to meet with school boards there about possible exchange programs.
The venture could create cultural opportunity for students and jobs for teachers, said Chair Jennifer Yenssen. She described it as a legacy she’d like to leave for students and staff.
Korean hosts are willing to pay costs of the visit, while Yenssen and director Mary Anne Alton would use professional development allowances to cover flight costs.
Vice-chair John Chapman and trustee Ross King voted against the Korean trip.
The timing of an overseas trip for senior administration is wrong, Chapman said.
Exchange trips are fine, he said, but argued it’s not the time for a new venture while Bluewater is still wrestling with problems that put it in the negative spotlight for 10 months.
“The needs of our students and the concerns of parents as reported with the recommendations of three independent surveys is not being addressed by having the director and the chair of the board fluttering off to South Korea,” Chapman said.
Bluewater has to focus on accountability and communication problems identified by two consultants and a public survey, he said. He cited repeated parent complaints and a rock bottom approval rating for administration.
“We expect the first concern of our system to be our students here in Bluewater. In the last 10 months there have been a lot of concerns expressed as to how we are or are not doing business.”
But Yenssen argued that the board has done “unprecedented outreach” work in the wake of a crisis in confidence last spring, and shouldn’t turn down the chance to look at new ventures.
“Certainly I concur with the vice-chair that we have a lot of work to do yet (but) I don’t think that one week away to explore this partnership and develop relationships with Korean Boards is going to really mitigate getting that work accomplished,” Yenssen said.
“I think if you search for the perfect time to embark on an initiative of this nature, you never find (it).”
The Korean venture was suggested by West Grey Mayor Kevin Eccles as part of an economic development partnership that municipality is working on with Korean representatives.
He doesn’t regret suggesting the Korean exchange program to board, Eccles said after the lengthy debate by trustees.
It’s been successful for other boards, and could help Bluewater over come its problems, he suggested.
Jenny Han has been appointed Bluewater’s liaison with Korean school boards. A face to face meeting with potential partners in Korea is crucial to the Asian way of doing business, Han said.
She praised Bluewater’s rural setting as ideal for Korean teachers learning English as a Second Language.
Compared to similar courses in Peel and Toronto region school boards, Bluewater wouldn’t have the temptation of ethnic communities that can allow students to sneak time off their English-only focus.
Forty Korean teachers could enroll for classes this summer, Han said. That program could expand to include student exchanges.