Education Minister Cliff Cullen says the new School Community Councils will operate in an advisory role when dealing with schools and administrators.

The councils are part of the province’s plan to revamp Manitoba’s education system.

The province has established a Parent Engagement Task Force to guide public input and provide advice to the government on how to move forward with parent engagement as part of education reform in Manitoba.

"Bill 64 proposes these councils and this is a way of engaging parents in the community at the local school level. It’s as advisors to the school’s leadership, the principal and director’s of education for the region. We thought we'd engage with the community and get their thoughts on how this would work and what’s needed to make it work."

The Parent Engagement Task Force will engage directly with Manitoba parents and caregivers through a series of 15 regional meetings scheduled for later this month and in June to explore the potential role of school community councils, how parent engagement can be strengthened and the resources they need to be successful.

"We have existing parent advisory councils and they have various functions. The new councils will take a more holistic approach in looking at what school’s need and how to work toward better outcomes. It’s more about the holistic approach rather than those one off approaches."

People in parts of the province feel the task force doesn't fairly represent all regions of the province.

"We tried to get a diverse group and we have MLA’s, parents and school administrators both urban and rural."

Over the next few months Minister Cullen says the task force will use the virtual gatherings to obtain information and draft a report for government.

"The recommendations may touch on how these community school councils could work better and potentially any changes to the legislation as it’s proposed" said Cliff Cullen.