Education overhaul prompts early exit of SRSD super

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This article was published 05/09/2021 (1381 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Faced with the prospect of losing his job next summer amid sweeping education changes planned by the Manitoba government, the superintendent of Seine River School Division has made the “difficult, heart-rending decision” to leave early.

Mike Borgfjord received a standing ovation from trustees at his final board meeting on Tuesday. The Lorette resident held the division’s top job for 13 years.

“It’s really been a privilege to work here,” he told trustees.

Borgfjord is the latest senior administrator to depart Seine River ahead of the implementation of Bill 64, the Education Modernization Act, or a softened successor.

The division’s secretary-treasurer, Mary Trudeau, will retire in December. One assistant superintendent, Yvan St. Vincent, accepted a principalship in Lorette, while a second, Elaine Lochhead retired in June.

In two news releases, the division said Borgfjord’s Sept. 3 departure is “a direct result of the potential damaging effects of Bill 64,” and confirmed Lochhead will return as a half-time co-superintendent on a one-year term.

Simon Laplante, a former principal at three SRSD schools, was also promoted to co-superintendent on a one-year, part-time basis.

Borgfjord will head to Alberta, where he will become superintendent of Pembina Hills School Division, headquartered in Barrhead, northwest of Edmonton.

Borgfjord began weighing his options in March, when Education Minister Cliff Cullen confirmed plans to dissolve all 37 English-language school divisions in Manitoba and replace them a centralized education authority orbited by a regional advisory council and dozens of school-specific volunteer committees. Another section of the bill, which is likely to be jettisoned following the departure of outgoing premier Brian Pallister, would abolish locally elected school boards.

Borgfjord didn’t mince words in the closing minutes of Tuesday’s board meeting, saying Bill 64’s view of locally elected trustees made him “angry.”

“Elected boards let us know what our community values are,” he said.

Borgfjord said he worked with 17 different trustees during his time in Seine River.

“Every single one of them made me a better superintendent.”

Borgfjord said many parents don’t appreciate the work of a trustee until they need help navigating the education system.

“I think it’ll be such a shame to have a system where there’s no community voice. And I feel strongly about that,” he said.

In an interview following the meeting, Borgfjord noted a survey of parents conducted by the division showed strong opposition to removing locally elected trustees.

He said he took no joy in seeing PC caucus support for Bill 64 crumble since Pallister announced his departure three weeks ago.

“We’ll see where it goes and what happens.”

As for his own career, Borgfjord said he didn’t fear the coming changes to education administration, but simply wished to avoid a prolonged period of uncertainty followed by a flood of senior administrators entering the Manitoba job market.

When Bill 64 was introduced, Borgfjord said he considered retiring, but was encouraged by peers to embrace the opportunity to make a career change.

He said he doesn’t believe the Manitoba government’s education strategy will pay off.

“Anything done structurally is not going to improve education.”

Rather than hewing to an ideology, Borgfjord said a better approach is to assess the system, identify weaknesses, then address them with targeted supports.

“You can’t fix something without knowing where the challenges are.”

He noted the corporate world is moving away from top-down changes and toward adjustments that preserve agility.

Asked to recall highlights of his 13 years in Seine River, Borgfjord said, “The culture of learning is probably what I’m most proud about.”

He said he was also pleased by “the exponential increase in people willing to take on leadership positions” compared to when he arrived in 2008.

Trustees took turns thanking Borgfjord at Tuesday’s board meeting.

“You have left us a tremendous legacy of caring and trust,” board chair Wendy Bloomfield said.

Trustee Wes Keating said he most appreciated Borgfjord’s candour, while Trustee Jessie Cahill said she benefitted from his patience. Trustee Trina Wall said she admired Borgfjord’s ability to foresee the future and plan accordingly, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trustee Theresa Bergson thanked Borgfjord for prioritizing trustee learning through book studies and other board exercises.

“I’ve done more studying than I ever did in school,” she quipped.