The amalgamation of P.E.I.'s two English school districts is being done in too much of a hurry, says the chair of the Western School Board.

'We feel that we don't have a lot of input into how this new system will operate.'— Gary Doucette, Western School Board

Gary Doucette said there are too many unanswered questions about how the merged board will work. The government has said the two senior management teams at the boards will be merged into one by July 1.

"We are scared that the changeover is happening too quick and that there will be effects felt in the classroom from the transition," said Doucette.

"As a board we are dealing with tying up our loose ends and trying to make sure everything is completed properly, but it is hard to do because we feel that we don't have a lot of input into how this new system will operate or how the transition will even take place."

Doucette said the board has no guarantee the policies and projects it has been working on will be carried over.

Education officials say they have pushed the final timeline back a few months to make for a smoother transition. People working for the school boards whose jobs will be affected have already been notified. They can reapply for positions in the new board.

By July 1 a new superintendent will be in place. On Aug. 1 there will be a call for applications for new trustees and those people will be appointed by Oct. 15.

The whole merger will be complete Dec. 31, a few months later than the initial Sep. 1 target date.