ASBA - Alberta School Boards Association

Leadership candidate Q and A

Talking education with provincial politicians

The Progressive Conservative and Liberal party leadership races are underway. A provincial election won’t be far behind. Where do the potential leaders stand on key public education issues? The ASBA is asking the leadership candidates six questions about public education. As we receive responses we will post them here.

PC Leadership Candidates
Doug Griffiths
Doug Horner
Gary Mar
Rick Orman
Alison Redford
Ted Morton

Liberal Leadership Candidates
Laurie Blakeman
Bill Harvey
Hugh MacDonald
Bruce Payne
Raj Sherman

Doug Griffiths

Question 1

The provincial government invested two years and millions of dollars talking to Albertans about creating the school of the future that will truly serve the student of the future. In the wake of this consultation, Bill 18 – a new Education Act – was introduced in the legislature this spring; but it has not been passed. The Action on Inclusion report dealing with special education is in circulation; but its future seems unclear.

What would you like to see happen to these key policy initiatives: the new Education Act and Action on Inclusion?

Answer

I believe a tremendous amount of good work was done in crafting the Education Act. It is a high level document that enables all aspects of the education system to adapt to meet local needs and maximize quality. I still have some concerns about the regulations that have yet to be written and would like to ensure that the intent of the consultations and recommendations are truly reflected in the completed documents. I would recommend a final review with education stakeholders before final reading and ascent are given to the bill.

Question 2

This spring’s loss of some 1000 teaching positions speaks to the upheaval Alberta children experience when funding for Alberta schools is subject to the ups and downs of our oil and gas-based economy. Projects launched in one year are halted the next when the dollars dry up. Kids lose out.

Alberta’s health care system jumped off this rollercoaster when the provincial government announced five years of funding for health care. While Alberta’s health care system can plan for the future – Alberta school boards can’t.

Do you think the provincial government should move to longer term funding announcements for Alberta schools? Why or why not?

Answer

I strongly support the need for long-term sustainable funding and budgeting for Alberta’s education system. In fact, I believe the principle of sustainable funding is needed for the entire budget process and every department. I believe that cuts to education are equivalent to selling the topsoil of our land – cuts to our education system do nothing but strip value from our future and from our children’s future. We cannot and should not fund our future, which includes funding for education, by the price of oil or natural gas. While it is important that we complete a review of the long-term funding priorities of all government departments, education can’t be viewed as just a cost to our society, it is an investment in securing a viable future.

Government budgets must be based on a predicable level of funding that is not subject to the boom and bust cycles of the energy industry. We must plan for sustainable long-term taxation and spending independent of energy royalty revenues to allow our government to commit to funding our vital education system.

Question 3

In 2007 the provincial government negotiated a five-year deal with the Alberta Teachers’ Association. The deal linked teacher salary increases to the Alberta Average Weekly Earnings index, saw the provincial government assume responsibility for the teachers’ portion of the unfunded liability in their pension plan, included a commitment not to change legislation relating to teachers for the duration of the agreement and gave each teacher a $1,500 signing bonus – in exchange for five years of labour peace.

There have been pros and cons associated with this agreement. While the five years of labour peace provided learning stability for Alberta children, the global economic downturn left the provincial government struggling to fund the financial commitments it made, resulting this spring in the loss of 1000 teaching positions. This collective agreement with Alberta’s teachers ends in 2012.

In the future, how should collective agreements with Alberta teachers be established? Who should be involved? What role should the provincial government take?

Answer

Having a provincially negotiated collective agreement imposed on school boards who are required to be responsible for their own budgets is not logical. Although the goal of labour peace was achieved, it had unintended consequences of forcing reduced teaching positions and less programming for our students. Teaching contracts should be based on outcomes and specific requirements of the community. The government must ensure that, if it is accountable for the negotiation of long-term collective agreements with Alberta teachers, it provides sufficient funding and budget support to the education system to ensure that such commitments do not impact the quality of education provided. Such support can only come when the province maintains a long-term fiscal framework for spending and taxes, savings and investments.

Question 4

Fifty per cent of Alberta’s schools are 50 years of age or older. The 2006 Alberta Government Schools for Tomorrow report pegged the overall backlog to repair the province’s schools at $1.6 billion. If Alberta doesn’t repair its schools, Alberta will have to build new ones at a far higher cost. Some years ago, an MLA task force recommended the province move to the industry standard of setting aside two per cent of a building’s replacement value for annual maintenance and repair.

What approach do you think Alberta should take to secure the future of Alberta’s current inventory of schools? What approach do you think Alberta should take to building new schools?

Answer

Maintaining our schools to avoid costly repairs and/or reconstruction only makes good sense. If an Albertan lives in a house with a leaky roof, an Albertan will fix the roof. Why wouldn’t an Albertan do the same for their schools? I support the concept of setting aside a budget amount for annual maintenance and repair of our schools and believe such a move is critical in our proposed long-term fiscal framework review, that sees us budget smartly over the long term and not simply through election cycles.

Question 5

School boards serve students in rural and urban communities. As Alberta’s population continues to shift from the country to the city; from the inner-city to the suburbs, more schools are being considered for closure – one of the most difficult decisions a school board can make.

What are your views on the role of the school in the community? Is the school exclusively there to provide a quality education to students, no matter where they live? Or do schools also play a role in contributing to the viability and vitality of a community or neighborhood? If schools do play a role in community building, how should that role be supported?

Answer

Through my previous work writing the community development report and my book titled, “13 Ways to Kill Your Community” I clearly stated that when a school closes, the community becomes less attractive as a place for young people to live and raise their families, and will consequently die. We need to return to the concept of community schools, where schools are more of a community center, open and available for many activities. Schools should be places that encourage community growth, not just the education of our youth. The argument is often made that schools are there to educate and nothing else, but I strong believe that education is one of the four pillars of a strong community. We must recognize the importance of schools in building stronger communities, and the importance of strong communities in building a better Alberta.

Question 6

The proposed Education Act will put school boards on equal footing with municipalities by granting them natural persons powers – and the ability to do whatever they choose in pursuit of their mandate as long as it isn’t specifically prohibited in legislation. School boards, unlike municipalities, do not have taxing authority and now rely almost exclusively on the provincial government for funding. This disconnect with the community comes at the cost of flexibility and perceived accountability.

What do you think about returning taxing power to Alberta’s school boards?

Answer

If taxation powers are removed from the province, they should be given back to the local government in each community. All decisions in government, regardless of whether they are provincial or municipal, should be evaluated for their impact on individual communities. There are many demands and factors that come into play when setting appropriate taxation levels. We cannot have multiple levels of government all taxing our citizens without evaluating the overall tax burden. Likewise, we need to ensure that the taxes collected are being used at the closest level of government able to assess community needs and influence performance and outcomes. I believe that adequate funding levels would mean there would be little need for discussion of new taxing powers for school boards.

Doug Horner

Question 1

Answer

I would want to have a lengthy discussion with my caucus colleagues and stakeholders before passing the new Education Act. The Inspiring Education report – on which the new Education Act is based – is a great start to instilling a love of learning in Alberta’s students, but we can and should do so much more. If we’re going to overhaul our education system, we need to ensure that schools are community focal points, merging all the supports our children need to reach their full potential.

This includes special needs students. One of the PC Party’s founding principles – the principles that I vouch to use as the lens for decision-making – is compassion. Enhancing education means that we need to take a holistic approach to our system’s structure, promoting inclusiveness and ensuring that every education professional and every student has the tools they need to achieve success. We need to establish clear outcomes for our special needs students in schools, and work backwards to ensure that we are adequately supporting these kids.

Question 2

Do you think the provincial government should move to longer term funding announcements for Alberta schools? Why or why not?

Answer

Our approach needs to be well-thought-out: we need first and foremost to establish goals for our education system that include continuous improvement and reflect that our children are our most important responsibility. From there, we need to provide predictable funding that secures the future prosperity of our students and our province. We must foster a culture in Alberta schools that supports positive learning environments and where professionals don’t live in fear of budget cuts and layoffs. Perhaps we should separate the labour portion of funding and establish a long-term labour agreement. Operational funding for schools should be based on outcomes. The resources we apply to education should reflect the outcomes we want to achieve.

Question 3

In the future, how should collective agreements with Alberta teachers be established? Who should be involved? What role should the provincial government take?

Answer

My government will prioritize building a trusting relationship with Alberta’s teachers and school boards. This will include having discussions with the ASBA on all matters relevant to them, such as labour negotiations. At the end of the day, we have a common goal: to ensure that Alberta students have access to a world-class education system. This means that we need to work together to establish a long-term agreement. Any labour agreement must include mechanisms that ensure that the government can meet its financial obligations to the agreement. The Alberta government can take a role in ensuring that school boards are both sufficiently funded and held accountable for learning outcomes.

Question 4

Answer

The fact is that schools are already hubs, but we can do more to grow their role and increase their viability in our communities. For example, by using technology, we can bring educational resources to students enabling them to learn where they are. More importantly, through innovative funding models, schools can become community centres and provide wrap-around services. This will create avenues for funding building maintenance and enhance the use and life our school infrastructure.

In terms of new schools, it’s simple: we need to take a long-term approach and build schools when and where we will need them. We must plan ahead and build our schools so that the student population can grow into them. Building a school that is instantly at capacity is grossly inefficient.

Question 5

Answer

With children as the focal point of our society, schools should be the focal point of our communities. By expanding schools’ roles to include things like nutritional and mental health services, we’ll increase their functionality and enable new funding streams that can support the school as a community centre. This will enhance the vitality of the school by enabling it to be a foundation for community services, activities and learning.

Question 6

What do you think about returning taxing power to Alberta’s school boards?

Answer

My goal would be to provide adequate, equitable, long-term funding to all schools boards throughout the province so that they are able to meet the needs of the students in their communities. Returning taxing power to school boards is not the solution. Rather, it is more important to focus on building a trusting and collaborative relationship between the government, the ATA and the ASBA so that we are all able to cooperatively work toward our mutual goal: providing Alberta’s students with a world-class education.

Gary Mar

Question 1

Answer

I realize that much time, research and consultation has been devoted to both of these initiatives. I am encouraged by what I have read in both Bill 18 and the Action on Inclusion and that these initiatives focus on student success.

I would like to spend more time understanding the perspectives of educational stakeholders and all Albertans on the details of Bill 18 before moving the new Education Act forward. I believe that legislation should be made in an open, fully visible process and have committed to consult with Albertans about new laws before they are tabled in the Legislature. We all have a right to understand the need for and the meaning and impact of policy and legislation in our lives, and we must be given every opportunity to be heard, before laws are debated and decided.

My government will support moving Action on Inclusion forward. I understand the first changes towards an inclusive education system will begin this September. Some of the recommended strategies in the Action in Inclusion are reflected in my Education Policy including early intervention for at-risk students, developing a coordinated “wrap around” approach, and supporting teachers in meeting the diverse needs of the students in their classrooms.

Question 2

Do you think the provincial government should move to longer term funding announcements for Alberta schools? Why or why not?

Answer

Yes. A major focus of my Education Policy, which can be found at www.garymar.ca/policy is stable and predictable operating funding for school boards so that jurisdictions could plan ahead. I believe boards need to know how much funding they can depend on to implement long term plans and initiatives. I would also like to take the opportunity to recognize the hard work of School Board Trustees and organizations like the Alberta School Board Association for the work they do in managing school funding to ensure educational successful for all students in the province.

Question 3

In the future, how should collective agreements with Alberta teachers be established? Who should be involved? What role should the provincial government take?

Answer

This topic has also been addressed in my Education Policy. My government would facilitate a solution for stable labour relations for the 2012 – 2013 school year and beyond. Discussions would be held with the Alberta School Boards Association and the Alberta Teachers’ Association with the purpose of developing a collective bargaining process that will result in labour stability.

Question 4

Answer

As stated in my Education Policy, a Mar government will review the current provincial school infrastructure process. This review would be done by school jurisdictions together with Alberta Education and Alberta Infrastructure. Part of this review could look at the MLA Task Force recommendations. The goal will be to establish a clear and predictable process for making decisions about education infrastructure, such as building new schools. Decision-making will be transparent so that there is more accountability to parents, school boards and taxpayers.

Question 5

Answer

Schools and communities working together assure that our students are prepared for their futures.

One role of schools is to provide a quality education to their students, no matter where they live. The government provides the resources to School Boards so they can ensure schools fulfill this role. In addition to my commitment to stable, predictable funding, my government will also review the Education Funding Framework every five years. This will be done in consultation with stakeholders to ensure funding is distributed in an equitable manner across the province. Part of this review will also look at grants that are allocated based on the unique circumstances of school jurisdictions so that students receive a quality education “no matter where they live.”

Schools do play an important role in the viability and vitality of their community. They bring the community into their school and they take their students into the community. As leader, I will support enhancing the role of schools as “community hubs,” so that parents and families can access various services. Schools, community agencies and service providers would work together to deliver services in a coordinated “wrap-around approach” to students in the community.

It is the role of School Boards to support schools in their role as community builders. It is the role of government to enable and support Boards in this role by providing funding and resources.

Question 6

What do you think about returning taxing power to Alberta’s school boards?

Answer

Although I am open to debate on this issue, I do not believe we should return taxing power to School Boards. One of the reasons for the introduction of full provincial funding in 1994 was to address many of the fiscal equity problems in the province. Full provincial funding that is distributed based on an effective Education Funding Framework that is reviewed every five years, ensures fair and equitable funding to all Boards across the province. School Boards have the flexibility to allocate these funds and they are accountable to all Albertans for how these dollars are spent.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond. To learn more about my campaign and how to get involved or to share your views, please visit www.garymar.ca.

Alison Redford

Question 1

Answer

I believe that Bill 18 should not be passed in its current form; it needs retooling. For the Education Act to be truly representative of Albertans’ opinions, it should draw much more from Alberta Education’s Inspiring Education Report. The report was complied after exhaustive public consultations and it reflects Albertans’ desire for significant changes to the provincial curriculum and students' learning experience.

An inclusive education system is a must. Special-needs students (particularly those learning English as a second language or grappling with impairments) comprise a substantial and growing proportion of pupils. They must be placed in the right circumstances where they can flourish. Special-needs students’ successes benefit everyone while their failures drag the system down. As Premier, I will take a hard look at the Action on Inclusion Report’s recommendations and work to clear bottlenecks from the assessment process.

Question 2

Do you think the provincial government should move to longer term funding announcements for Alberta schools? Why or why not?

Answer

Stable, long-term funding is a major part of my fiscal policy and I mean to put Alberta's education system on a 3-year funding cycle. This will allow decision-makers to plan ahead and proceed confidently with capital investments and other large expenditures. It will also save parents from the shock of unexpected school closures and give teachers and other staff a fair measure of job security.

Question 3

In the future, how should collective agreements with Alberta teachers be established? Who should be involved? What role should the provincial government take?

Answer

My government will always take the lead in collective bargaining with Alberta's teachers. The need to maintain a stable learning environment for students demands no less. However, my government will also include school boards in the negotiations in a tripartite arrangement. Boards have an equal stake in the system's smooth functioning and I believe their added perspective will offer a healthy dose of clarity for everyone involved.

Question 4

Answer

The provincial government must invest in infrastructure before it degrades to the point of becoming non-functional. Alberta's swelling population will also require new schools to be built. My government will re-examine the task force's proposal and take a proactive approach toward making sure capacity keeps up with demand. Once Alberta Education begins to operate on a 3-year funding cycle, it will become much easier to prioritize and slot repairs and refurbishments into the budget as needed. I also intend to allow schools to operate on a small scale where a sufficient support base exists.

Question 5

Answer

Schools are more than places where kids learn the basics. They are gathering places that embody the values of the surrounding community and the unspoken hope that those values will be passed down to the next generation, intact and unbroken. Schools are the bedrock of many communities and without the former many of the latter would cease to exist. Absent an accessible school, few families would choose to settle in the surrounding area, leaving it a husk devoid of spirit and services. I intend to support schools' foundational role in communities by allowing individual institutions to operate, even if only on a small scale, where sufficient support exists. There are plenty of places in which parents are forced to enroll their students in systems not of their choosing due to a lack of options. I will fix this and give parents the choice they deserve.

Question 6

What do you think about returning taxing power to Alberta’s school boards?

Answer

At this time I do not support endowing school boards with the power of taxation.

Laurie Blakeman

Question 1

Answer

I believe that education is the keystone of a community and the literal key to Albertan’s success as a global competitor in the creative and knowledge based sectors of the future. The Preamble of the proposed Education Act as written, appears to support my vision of Education. However I don’t trust the government to deliver this vision in the form that would appear to support the stated vision. The wording is very similar to past attempts by the government to privatize healthcare. Lots of talk about “shared responsibility’ and ‘choice’. While all Albertans support these concepts the track record of the government in implementing such ideas is poor. I like the conferring of natural person powers to School Boards. However, I would return full requisitioning powers to School Boards instead of a mere percentage.

So, short answer. I would implement most of what I see in the Education Act, but not all of it.

Special Education and the concept of inclusion has been a much more complex and difficult implementation process than anyone would have imagined. I think most Albertans support this concept but I would argue that we have not found the inclusion formula which best serves all children. Even with full-time aides, some students can be so disruptive as to hold the teacher’s time hostage, to the disadvantage of other students. But students, parents and society would uphold the concept as nurturing compassion, accommodation and integration. In other words, we haven’t got this right yet. Funding cannot bounce about for special need students. If we mean it, we have to fund it to success. And I don’t see a huge appetite for that. Or come up with a way to give special education students an experience which is similar but not identical.

Question 2

Do you think the provincial government should move to longer term funding announcements for Alberta schools? Why or why not?

Answer

YES, I approve of a longer term, more stable and predictable funding formula. I would have said between 3-5 years. Longer and the formula will not be able to cope with societal changes, new labour contracts etc. As well, the government, being in complete control of the budget process, must deliver education budgets to school boards in a more timely manner. Given the provincial budget can pass by April 1st in most years, the school boards should receive some idea within 8-10 weeks following that.

Question 3

In the future, how should collective agreements with Alberta teachers be established? Who should be involved? What role should the provincial government take?

Answer

As above, five years should be the maximum. If the government negotiates indexing, then the government has to budget to cover those increases and deliver that increase to the school boards. I cannot see how this government can continue to fund, horse racing for example, and not fund increases for teachers, which the government negotiated and signed off on!.

I don’t feel I am well enough informed to render an opinion on whether the government should continue to negotiate directly with teachers or how and who should be involved in future negotiations. From where I’m standing it does look a bit strange that the government negotiates with the teachers but the school boards employ them. But as I say, I may not be up to speed on this.

Question 4

Answer

I believe that a set percentage of Alberta’s non-renewable resources should be set aside in endowment funds and the proceeds used in creation or maintaining of assets such as schools, road and bridge infrastructure etc. In other words, using Alberta’s assets to create other assets which are valuable to the citizens.

I would like to see School Boards, municipalities and province sit down and set out how school buildings will be used for student and community benefit. Currently we have one hand of government saying close schools (Education) verses another hand (Municipal Affairs) saying keep core schools open, especially in the inner city so communities will flourish.

I do not believe there is a compelling economic argument for a province as wealthy as Alberta is, to engage in P3s. Alberta should finance, operate and maintain our buildings ourselves.

I’d like to see future schools built more on a flexible long-term model in which administration, library, gym plus a few classrooms are in a central section and other classroom sections can be added or demolished as needed in the future. This is NOT portables but actually designing the schools so that in 40 years a section can easily be demolished and removed or added on. As well, solar and wind power can be utilized and better insulation and positioning with regard to season temperatures can make buildings more comfortable to use year-round.

Question 5

Answer

As an urban MLA I understand more of the complexities of inner city schooling and buildings. And as noted above I do see schools as having a role in the community. I have also made it clear that I believe we need to see Alberta as a modern urban province, since most of our population lives in urban centres. So it may be that rural schooling will be handled in different ways in the future. Variable school days or weeks, even seasons, Increased use of technology which also means increased costs to get this all to work and possible a short term return to government ownership of utilities like phone and internet service in order to guarantee service.

I don’t see the point in bussing children long distance and for long periods of time and would avoid this. Can we return to one room multi-grade schools? Can technology make rural school experience the same as urban schools? Is Monday-Thursday longer learning days in boarding school a possibility with kids returning home for 3 day weekends?

Question 6

What do you think about returning taxing power to Alberta’s school boards?

Answer

I believe that the current government deliberately tried to ‘neuter school boards by taking over the property tax collection and then ‘redistributing it’. I am on record as saying that complete requisitioning powers should be returned to local school boards.

Bill Harvey

Question 1

Answer

After reading it for this first time this evening because I was responding to this survey, I would postpone implementing the Act for various reasons. I do not feel parents, school boards and teachers were sincerely consulted on this. I would like to open up a deeper consultation process.

Question 2

Do you think the provincial government should move to longer term funding announcements for Alberta schools? Why or why not?

Answer

Firstly, I am appalled at the loss of "some 1,000 teaching positions" as a growing province, I feel that we need more teachers not less. This move not only hindered our children from having a better teacher/ student ratio in learning, but, has caused more duress on our teachers and the school boards in this province. The decision to do this was illogical at best. As for funding? I feel that all school boards must manage their budget using a zero based budgeting model. Having said that I do feel that Alberta's school boards must be able to rely on funding that reflects the growth of the province.

Question 3

In the future, how should collective agreements with Alberta teachers be established? Who should be involved? What role should the provincial government take?

Answer

I feel that all stakeholders such as parent associations, taxpayer groups, Alberta's school boards, teachers, government and the Alberta's Teachers Association all need to have input on such deals moving forward. The provincial government should be a facilitator in this process.

Question 4

Answer

I do feel that P3's, if regulated, and governed effectively can help us achieve the build that we need. I also feel allowing more private and charter schools can help alleviate the crisis in this area.

Question 5

Answer

Schools must be pre-planned in each community and not an after thought as we are seeing. However, I am open to more charter, private and even homeschooling options to alleviate the demand.

Question 6

What do you think about returning taxing power to Alberta’s school boards?

Answer

I would not return the taxing power to Alberta's School Boards at any time. There are already 3 levels of government in the pockets of taxpayers and adding another level of taxation would be a grave mistake.

Hugh MacDonald

Question 1

Answer

I fully support the implementation of the Action on Inclusion plan.

I support Bill 18, the new Education Act, but I have concerns with two changes within the legislation that I argued against during the bill debate this past spring.

The first concern I have is that kindergarten is no longer mandated. In 2003 the Alberta Commission on Learning highlighted the importance of kindergarten as a tool for identifying concerns as well as being a key factor in providing children with a healthy and nurturing start in life. I would like to see the Education Act amended to mandate kindergarten and to make steps towards implementing the Alberta Commission on Learning's recommendations on full day kindergarten programs for all students.

The other main concern I have is the changes to Section 56 of the Education Act which eliminated the 2.5 kilometer travel limit for rural students. Rural students should not be put at a disadvantage because they have to spend significant time being bused to school; they should have the same ease of access to schooling as children in urban settings.

Question 2

Do you think the provincial government should move to longer term funding announcements for Alberta schools? Why or why not?

Answer

Yes. I believe that sustainable, long-term, public funding of the education system is the best way to provide quality education in our province. Funding for education is one of the best investments we can make and that funding should not be imperiled by current economic trends. Alberta School Boards should have funding stability so they can concentrate on developing long-term strategies that best address the education of their students.

This past March, the Minister of Finance Lloyd Snelgrove stated that our province is expected to have an additional 100,000 students over the next ten years. This only highlights the need for long-term, predictable funding to address both the current and future need of our education system.

Question 3

In the future, how should collective agreements with Alberta teachers be established? Who should be involved? What role should the provincial government take?

Answer

Any collective agreements should be about what is best for the teachers and students of our province and those agreements should not be impacted by swings in the economic markets. Education is an investment that should always remain a priority. I think that we should maintain the current collective bargaining process and the provincial government should ensure commitment and support of any new settlements agreed to.

Question 4

Answer

Investing in school infrastructure should be a priority and it should be paid for with public dollars. I disagree with the current reliance on public-private partnerships to fund infrastructure projects in our province as these arrangements create every increasing debt servicing costs.

I would also support the proposal by Alberta School Boards to return to and expand block funding for school maintenance and modernization projects.

Question 5

Answer

Schools are an integral part of any community and those communities are in turn the frontlines of Alberta's education system. To ensure that schools are integrated into the community I would create a "community schools" program that would deliver local services such as childcare, after-school care, social services and health care. I would also review the utilization formula for rural and urban schools to ensure that the needs of the community are taken into account when important decisions are made regarding school closures.

Question 6

What do you think about returning taxing power to Alberta’s school boards?

Answer

I think that Alberta School Boards should have taxing power returned to them. Those working at the community level have the best understanding of their own local needs and having taxation power will give Alberta School Boards the flexibility and control they need to fulfill their roles in our education system.

Raj Sherman

Question 1

Answer

I hope to educate all of our children. We don’t need legislation to do that, what we need is a commitment to hire more teachers and get them the support they need to do their job. It is my sincere hope that after the next election, which may be held in the near future, Albertans will change the government they have and get the government they deserve.

Speaking from experience, anytime this government decides it wants to “consult” the people its purpose is to gain legitimacy for a policy it has already developed. I am certain the millions of dollars spent on bureaucrats and conferences could have been better spent on keeping teachers in the classroom, reducing class sizes, and providing more support staff.

You are the experts; you do not need the Ministry of Education to tell you what is right for you. There are common sense solutions already out there. I am sure you know what they are. True change happens when it is organic, from the grassroots up. If you have recommendations for the student of the future and to make the educational experience more inclusive, I would be happy to hear them, free of charge.

Question 2

Do you think the provincial government should move to longer term funding announcements for Alberta schools? Why or why not?

Answer

Of course, this is yet another area where the simplest, common sense solution is the right one. Schools need to be given control back to them, not centralized further into the hands of government. The government needs to provide stable, predictable funding so that our educational institutions can make budgets, plan programs, and recruit and retain staff. Let’s provide the municipalities and school boards the power to generate their own revenue. As long as government controls the purse strings, educational institutions have to do what politicians say. We need to put decisions closer to home and put Alberta back into the hands of Albertans.

Question 3

In the future, how should collective agreements with Alberta teachers be established? Who should be involved? What role should the provincial government take?

Answer

Are you surprised? I’ve found that before an election this government will promise you the world and everything in it so that there’s “peace.” After the election, and when times get rough, all bets are off, and the government starts reducing the number of teachers and asking for the money back. Lately, it seems that education is the preferred whipping post, perhaps for the reasons mentioned in the preamble above. Now you have a golden opportunity to not commit the mistakes of the past.

Albertans need to be joint partners in the decision-making process when it comes to agreements such as this. Decisions need to be made based on necessity and not political expediency. Choices about salaries, the number of teachers, support staff, and the infrastructure we need all have to be made in concurrently with the big picture in mind.

Question 4

Answer

First, we must change our government. The current management style is clearly failing all of us. It is the same in education as it is in health care and many other areas. Those with connections to government officials or status in a political party are able to bias the decision-making process so that decisions are made based on politics, not on merit. Enough is enough!

As with our own personal health and automobiles, regular check-ups and maintenance are essential if we’re to avoid unforeseen calamity. You correctly pointed out that, because we’ve allowed our infrastructure to deteriorate, we will spend more of our investments on capital projects, which starve the operating budgets of all of our facilities.

My vision is that schools need to be used as community hubs where school boards, municipalities and the provincial government work together not only to educate our children, but to provide the much needed wrap-around services to support the teachers and address the challenges our children and families face. We need to link our schools with non-profit, public daycare, the prevention side of the medical system (i.e. nursing staff, nutritionists, mental health and addictions counsellors etc.), reinstate mandatory physical activity, and make sure that every child who comes to school has breakfast and a warm lunch. So, let’s repair and maintain our buildings on a regular basis.

Question 5

Answer

I believe that schools function best when they are set up and resourced as community hubs. They can and should be the centre of community activity. Let’s not only make them great places to educate; let’s connect people within our community as well. We can use our schools as multi-use centers of community connectivity where grandparents, parents and children can all come together to exercise, get healthy, be entertained, and participate in community events.

Question 6

What do you think about returning taxing power to Alberta’s school boards?

Answer

Municipalities and school boards need the power to generate their own revenue because there is no real political autonomy without financial autonomy to go with it. That is why I support giving the power of taxation back to our school boards and putting decisions closer to home so that they may develop local solutions to local problems. It is the very essence of what it means to put Alberta back into the hands of Albertans.