English and French school boards in and around Montreal, six in all, are uniting in their opposition to Bill 86.
The school board reform bill will wipe out school board elections, and instead replace them with a council appointed by school staff and parents of students.
The government argued the poor showing at school board elections is proof the public does not value the institutions, while critics say successive governments have refused to accept recommendations to improve participation.
Miville Boudreault, chair of the Commission Scolaire de la Pointe de L'Ile, said the government has succeeding in uniting school boards.
"If we speak today with one voice it's because we share a common goal. And this goal is to help all of our students, francophone, anglophone, to succeed," said Boudreault.
"Bill 86, as written right now, doesn't do enough to address this matter."
The representatives from the English boards worry that if Bill 86 supplants the community's right to manage and control English-speaking education, Quebec could end up with a two-tiered education stsyem.
"Many constitutional experts have studied the draft legislation and are unanimous that this bill is unconstitutional," said Jennifer Maccarone, chair of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board.
Angela Mancini, chair of the English Montreal School Board, said the law is "undemocratic."
"It affects everybody, whether you are a French school board or an English school board," she said.
Several parents groups are in favour of Bill 86, including the Quebec Federation of Parents Committees that represents the English Montreal School Board and the Eastern Townships School Board.
The group spoke in favour of Bill 86 at public hearings on Wednesday, saying the bill would give more power to parents and allow a grassroots approach to student success.
Education Minister Sebastien Proulx said he's heard the message loud and clear, and says he wants to reassure all involved that he will take their ideas into account going forward.
