The Senate dominated by the right-wing opposition went Wednesday, after the National Assembly, to the bedside of school directors, voting, with a favorable opinion from the government, the principle of a
"functional authority of the directors of school ”,
strongly criticized on the left.
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The LREM bill
"creating the function of school director"
, adopted last summer at first reading by the deputies, intends to facilitate the task of school directors.
It was adopted at first reading by the upper house, with significant modifications, by 251 votes in favor and 92 against (PS, CRCE with a communist majority, environmentalists).
In particular, it provides that school principals have a
“managerial position”
and benefit from
“a delegation of powers from the academic authority”
for the proper functioning of the school.
"The legal status quo has become untenable,"
said rapporteur Julien Bargeton (majority RDPI En Marche).
One point is consensus: school principals, who have seen their responsibilities highlighted by the Covid-19 epidemic, need better recognition and support.
But the question of authority was debated.
The Senate has indeed voted on the amendments made by Max Brisson (LR) and Sonia de La Provôté (centrist) which gives them
"a functional authority".
According to Max Brisson, this authority would be entrusted to them
"as part of their mission, and thus limited to administrative and organizational missions"
.
The senator defended
"a point of balance"
, refuting any
"ulterior motive"
.
The notion of functional authority
"seems appropriate, pragmatic"
, supported the Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer.
But the amendment sparked an outcry on the left of the hemicycle.
“It can be compared to the beginning of hierarchical authority”
of the director over the other teachers, said Sylvie Robert (PS).
All the more so, noted Pierre Ouzoulias (CRCE), that the senators deleted in the text resulting from the Assembly the mention of a lack of hierarchical authority of the director over other teachers.
Julien Bargeton defended on this point
"a crest line which consists in not weakening the director by saying that he has no hierarchical authority".
The left nevertheless welcomed
"some progress"
, in particular the inclusion in the law of the principle according to which the school principal can benefit from a teaching discharge.