English Montreal School Board

I emailed them about a certificate of eligibility and they didn’t respond. This was 1 year and 10 months ago and they still did not respond.

Update: made this review exactly two years ago today. So that's 3 years and 10 months without response. They still didn't respond hahah, its alright tho I just think they should make the application process easier.

There school's are terrible, they just now installed air filters for COVID and either there heat is too hot or its not on at all. There teachers are that good but the CCWs are awesome.

We are newcomers and went to visit the school door number 121 and I have all my documents for my medical issue because I want to study in English my sister and I and the documents from the hospital that I have proves that I have a big issue in my brain, we arrived at the door and wanted to enter but she kicked us out and told us to wait outside maybe because we are Arab. Unfortunately this situation was really bad and she was rude plus she didn’t treat us well as if we are kids and she was RACIST. Not recommended at all and I hope no one gets put in my position in that situation.

Incredibly poor decision making for youth that require intelligent thinking and leadership

I arrived without an appointment and stomped in expecting all sorts of delay and confusion.

What a relief!

What a pleasant surprise!

The porter and a lady greeted me and sorted out from my word salad that I needed to register my son for summer school; I needed to pay for summer school matriculation; we are country folk and don't understand even how to cross a road; I have not one, not two, but too many teenagers; that one son failed spectacularly, but that I still loved him.

(Doesn't my agrammatic run-on sentence signal a desperate need for a sound education?)

I was met with professionalism, courtesy, fluidly bilingual employees.

I am delighted to have moved to Montreal and transferred my boys to EMSB. If they fail (again!? !), it will not be because of EMSB.

Great clean school, good place to have your kids attend. But no assistance yet with archives!

Important information before you get to the English Montreal School Board:
- free parking available
- if you are there to get application or renewal of certificate of eligibility, enter from the back (up the stairs) with a white sign next to the door. Ignore the sign that states "All Visitors enter from the main door". I think they left it by accident maybe cause that was done before COVID times. Creates confusion!
- Bell they ask to ring did not work when I was there. Don't trust it.
- This place is for persons living on the Montreal island; if you are west island or elsewhere, you'll need to make an appointment with another school board.

Le Québec, «n’est pas une nation et ne l’a jamais été».

Une belle image pour les anglos québécois. Triste. Pour avoir jasé en masse avec des gens du West Island, ils sont beaucoup plus accueillants que ce que laisse croire votre organisme d'enseignement.

While you go for your child registration, first enter the main gate and ask the man who h gate you need to enter. He'll show you on his computer (security camera). Though it is written press the buzzer just one time but you can press it twice thrice. In my case, the door was opened for the 3rd visit to the gate and press the buzzer 3-4 times. For the first two visit to the gate, I pressed the buzzer just one time and noone appear.

Very disorganized
They keep changing things in our schools at the last minute
They keep adding students to our already heavy classes throughout the year
They don't give enough much needed resources that are desperately lacking in our classrooms

The hiring process is very disappointing. You definitely need to know someone to get a job at EMSB.

I emailed them about a certificate of eligibility and they didn’t respond. This was 1 year and 10 months ago and they still did not respond.

It was awesome and easy to apply for admission in school.
It would be better to explore schools in your area before your appointment. You may need to choose and final one there.

Very great people. Services offered are very good. Smiling and patient with you. Much appreciated.

My experience with the EMSB school board
Was horrific and if I can give zero stars I would.
It all started with me receiving a call for a
" on-call substitution" in support staff.
I was told on the phone call that I have to pass a test first, and if I pass I will get an interview. She mentioned that we will be tested on word, excel, and accounting.

I arrived at the location on fielding avenue 30 minutes before my test, So at 9 am (test was at 9: 30am). I am someone who is extremely punctual, professional and reliable. The EMSB however wasn't.

We finally reached to the class room 15 minutes late, which is fine I'm a reasonable person.

Once we arrived in the testing room the facilitator began to explain the procedure.
She began with all our phones must be shut off for the entire test and that we absolutely under no circumstance are allowed to use to washroom for the entire period of the test.
I personally thought that was insane. I suffer from IBS and I don't need someone telling me when I am or am not allowed to use to washroom. That's not okay.
Even for those individuals who don't suffer from IBS, it's very possible that an hour in, maybe someone's breakfast didn't sit well and they absolutely need to use the washroom. Whatever the reason is, I should not have to justify my bowel movements.

Unfortunately I was never told that this test can take anywhere from 90 min to 3 hours. My husband drove me to the location and was going to wait around the area for me to finish. We also had other appointments and he suffers from 3 autoimmune disorders.
After I understood that this test can take up to half the day, I asked if I can please contact my husband and advise him. I was rudely answered " fine, but make it quick. "

I reopened my phone (after being told to shut it off) and after a few moments the facilitator asked " are you done yet? " I replied "well no because I'm waiting for my phone to open after you told us to shut it off " she looked at me with an annoyed reaction and continued with her explanation to the rest of the class. My phone finally turned on and I immediately messaged my husband wth details. My message wasn't sending immediately, So I waited, while attentively listening till it sent. The facilitator again commented (out loud in front of everyone) "are you done yet? You are really taking up our time here. " I already wasn't pleased with her behavior, but after that comment I told her politly " excuse me, but my husband is really ill, and we were not informed that this test could take this long so I will make sure I send him the message before starting. "

After being called out twice rudely, and being told that we are absolutely not allowed to use the washroom (which is inhuman), I felt very upset and bothered. I wanted to get up and leave then and there! But I was trying to calm myself down and tell myself not to let this woman affect me and my testing. When I received the first part of the test, I was still so bothered I couldn't focus on the pages or my test. There was enough red flags for me, and I already decided that this was not somewhere I would want to work or the community I would want to grow with. So I closed the booklet and walked out.

I contacted human resource department to express the incident and she wasn't any better.
She tried to cut me off multiple times as I was talking, she blamed me for not understanding the length of the test, (when I was never told how long it was going you take) & she quickly defended their tardiness for the test.
I told her I'm very understanding with how they had a " bad day" and so I expect the same treatment. And so for argument sake, if I did misunderstand the length of the test I'm allowed reconfirm how long it will take. Don't say were allowed to asked questions then be mean about it.
It ended with her saying " there are two sides to the story " I was called out, blamed, and no apology. Not to mention there was no visible minorities in the testing room and heard Lots of italian family names. Hmmm? !? !

Very polite secretary but didnt have a chace to explore the inside because of covid love the gold doors.

Don't try calling this school board, they just put you on hold for hours and they are very rude and disrespectful to you on the phone NOT WORTH IT.

Beware international students, DO NOT APPLY THROUGH THIS SCHOOL BOARD! Woman who takes care of international students is unprofessional, unable to answer the phone, emails and respond in a polite manner. She took 1100$ deposit then did not register student to class. She said visa took to long to arrive, but never called to verify, she had been advised when it would arrive, but still went ahead in assuming it was okay to not register for class. All the visa paperwork is so expensive and such a long process. Afterwards I spoke to vice principal of school, he advised to find and apply to another school because chances of mistake being fixed was impropable, waited for call back from him, called twice a day for over a week, both him and the woman in charge of international students. After not getting call back, applied to different school, as told to do so, was accepted. Have to now run after school board to get deposit back, waiting for an answer, even though they didn't respect the terms of the deposit. It's just not right.

Terrible human resources who don't seem to care about their staffing. Yet complain they lack employees. Would love to give a better review, but the board is a mess. The human resources is essentially nonexistent. The school board is highly disorganized and they never respond to phone calls or emails. Cannot recommend.

My son needed to find a school available during the school year since we needed to change him from his present school. I contacted the school board for help since most schools seemed to be full- I told them it was urgent. It's been a week now and I haven't been called back, I finaly found a place in a private school. No service from them at all, I don't think they care! Very disappointed!

Old nice building, not really interesting place. Very bureaucratic, people are nice but not a place of interest or easily accessible unless you have to do some administrative paperwork. Everything is old school, they usually do not answer the phone, you have to go in person.