Advertisement

Independent third party to audit Winnipeg School Division practices

Independent third party to audit Winnipeg School Division practices

Manitoba's Minister of Education and Training Ian Wishart is appointing an independent third party to audit Winnipeg School Division practices, according to a news release issued by the province on Friday.

The news comes more than one year after Dr. John Wiens of the University of Manitoba's faculty of education accused trustees of being "out of control" in a government-ordered report.

"The school division has made progress in improving transparency and accountability," Wishart is quoted as saying in the news release.

Still, he said the independent audit is necessary.

"We look forward to working in partnership with Winnipeg School Division and all school divisions to find innovative ways to improve public education in Manitoba," he said.

The June 2015 report by Wiens states that the Winnipeg School Division's board was unwilling to do "due diligence" when it came to following its own policies and bylaws.

For example, trustees did not remove themselves from situations of conflict of interest and felt justified in bypassing protocol and contacting schools directly, Wiens said at the time, adding that there were also issues with the "treatment and protection of employees, labour relations protocols [and] financial matters."

Mark Wasyliw, chair of the Winnipeg School Division's board of trustees, slammed the report for being "inaccurate and incomplete," back in 2015.

"The information that he was given was incomplete or downright inaccurate, and the entire report is just chock filled with sort of rumour, innuendo, gossip that he doesn't substantiate in any way," he said.

In the news release issued on Friday, Wasyliw said he was open to the third-party audit.

"We look forward to an outside review and are confident in the outcome," he is quoted as saying.

"We want to thank the government for its assistance in this matter and look forward to concluding this process."