December 14, 2009

ASBA gets clean audit
Audited financial statements
Douglas Kroetsch and Joseph Man of Collins Barrow Edmonton LLP presented the 2008-2009 audited financial statements to the ASBA Board of Directors at their December meeting. Collins Barrow gave the ASBA a clean audit report. Kroetsch told the board that the ASBA is in a healthy position – it is carrying no debt and ended the year with an overall surplus of $12,225. This is made up of an operating surplus of $76,100 (operating revenues totaled $4.309 million and operating expenditures totaled $4.233 million); a deficit from self supporting functions of $74,214 because it cost the ASBA that much to organize the March 2009 Education Summit and a surplus from investment income of $10,339. The association’s assets, liabilities and fund balances totaled $4.2 million. The 2009 audited financial statements (PDF–651K) are posted on the ASBA website. For more information, contact , ASBA Director of Finance and Administration.

Education research focus of new committee
The new Education Trends initiative will see ASBA representatives (Doug Gardner, Chair Foothills School Division and Marilyn Bergstra, Edmonton Catholic’s representative to the ASBA Board of Directors) meet with Alberta Education representatives to identify emerging trends and issues in public education. This committee’s findings are posted on the ASBA website. For more information contact .

Office Christmas hours
The ASBA office will be closed for the Christmas holidays December 24  to January 3, 2010.
We wish you the best of the season.

Success for FNMI students project starts
After last year’s Closing the Gap conference, an action plan was developed aimed at improving student success for FNMI students. Work is getting underway on this initiative. Consultant Sig Schmold has been assigned to this initiative and a first meeting of interested school board representatives will be held January 13 at the ASBA office in Edmonton. For more information contact .

“Virtual” attendance allowed at meetings
A November 26 change to the School Act means school trustees in Alberta will be able to participate in board meetings virtually, as long as everybody attending the meeting can hear each other. 

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Full survey report to be mailed to every jurisdiction office
What boards had to say about the ASBA
Sixty-six school boards were invited – and 62 responded – to the 2009 ASBA Membership Survey. The survey is conducted annually by an independent contractor. School boards will receive a copy of the 28-page report shortly. These are highlights from this report.

What members had to say about services?
Generally
When asked to assess the services provided by the ASBA (including the insurance programs and supplemental pension plans) school boards gave the association an average mark of 8.09/10.

Specific service areas
Communications services: 9.27/10
Based on responses from 24 school boards, who used communications services, this department received an average rating of 9.27/10. Last year school boards contacted communications for help with communications plans for delicate issues and to deliver workshops for administrators and trustees.
Education services: 9.1/10
Based on responses from 38 school boards, the average rating for education services was 9.1/10. Education services helped school boards with policy development, superintendent and board evaluations, recruitment and professional development for new trustees.
Labour relations services: 9/10
Based on responses from 27 of the 35 boards who used labour relations services, this department’s average rating was 9/10.  School boards looked to labour relations for help negotiating contracts with support staff and to deal with changes to ATA agreements and for assistance with grievances.
Legal services: 8.96/10
Based on responses from 53 school boards, the average rating for legal services was 8.96/10. Last year legal work for school boards focused on contracts, policy, personnel issues including grievances and lawsuits or situations that could lead to lawsuits.

What members had to say about communications with members and advocacy efforts
Member communications
School boards were also asked to describe their level of agreement with the following statements based on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being strongly agree.

The ASBA practices open communication: information is freely shared.
84 per cent of respondents ranked this between 7.5 and 10; 16 per cent – 5 to 7

The ASBA has a sense of direction and purpose; the association knows where it is going.
48 per cent of respondents ranked this between 7.5 and 10; 47 per cent – 5 to 7; 5 per cent – 1 to 4.5

The ASBA listens to your board’s needs.
58 per cent of respondents ranked this between 7.5 and 10; 40 per cent – 5 to 7; 2 per cent – 1 to 4.5 

The ASBA responds quickly to your board’s requests.
77 per cent of respondents ranked this between 7.5 and 10; 21 per cent – 5 to 7; 2 per cent – 1 to 4.5

Advocacy
Your board has sufficient input into advocacy activities at the provincial level.
61 per cent of respondents ranked this between 7.5 and 10; 39 per cent – 5 to 7

ASBA enhances advocacy through linkages with partners.
61 per cent of respondents ranked this between 7.5 and 10; 36 per cent – 5 to 7; 3 per cent – 1 to 4.5

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Chinook’s Edge wins 2009 Premier’s Award for School Board Excellence
Wrap up ASBA’s Fall Meeting
School boards adopted these positions at the annual policy conference. They presented the Premier’s Award for School Board Innovation and Excellence to the Chinook’s Edge School Division Board of Education and they thanked Dr. Leroy Sloan for his contributions to education in Alberta. They also honored six outstanding first year teachers: Melissa Isaac, High Prairie Elementary School, High Prairie School Division No. 48; Mallory McNelly, Edgerton School, Buffalo Trail Public Schools; Nancy Rennie, Leo Nickerson School, St. Albert PSSD No. 6; Jana Kemmere, Olds Junior/Senior High School, Chinook’s Edge School Division No. 73; Nancy Espetveidt, Bearspaw School, Rocky View School Division No. 41 and Ricardo Avelar, Winston Churchill High School, Lethbridge School District No. 51.

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What's new @www.asba.ab.ca?
Audited financial statements
Year: 2009 (PDF–651K)
Agenda Board of Directors
December 9-10 (PDF–45K)
Highlights Board of Directors
December 9-10 (PDF–99K)
Minutes Board of Directors
October 8-9 (PDF–86K)

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In the news....
See the ASBA website for media stories about education. In this week's headlines:

What and where to cut in public education
Native leaders push for separate school boards
Janitor wins worker’s compensation: allergic reaction to students perfume
Fort McMurray Public pulls money out of reserves to cover $3.58 million deficit
Just 18 per cent of foster children complete high school within three years

Read more>

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