Policy statements adopted at the ASBA's 1999 Fall General Meeting
Release date: November 25, 1999
Enhance the Curriculum
Leadership Role of ASBA
The Board of Directors of the Alberta School Boards Association shall, through
the budget process, increase the Association's capacity to consult and advise
on curriculum issues with both school boards and the provincial government.
Acquisition of Suitable
New Building Sites**
The Alberta School Boards Association believes that the obligations of School
Boards and the appropriate departments within the government of Alberta and
Municipal Authorities regarding the acquisition and ownership of suitable new
and current building sites required by school boards should be clearly defined
in the School Act and the Municipal Government Act. ** Note:This policy statement
was referred to the ASBA Board of Directors for study and recommendation for
consideration at the 2000 Spring General Meeting.
Removal of Ceiling for Funding
of Code 42 Students
The Alberta School Boards Association believes that there should be no ceiling
as to the number of Code 42 students funded so that Boards are better able to
meet the needs of these students.
School Facilities Maintenance
Plan (Policy 6.L.01)
The Alberta School Boards Association endorses the recommendations identified
in the Government of Alberta's "Report on a New School Facilities Capital
Plan" and believes that the government should implement the remaining recommendations
of the Report immediately, namely to provide funding for:
(1) the elimination of the current backlog of school maintenance and modernization
projects by 2002/2003, and
(2) a separate pool of funds for maintaining and modernizing existing facilities.
This fund would be equal to the private sector rate of 2 per cent of facility
replacement value as a baseline annual budget.
Special Needs Funding
The Alberta School Boards Association believes the funding provided for special
education programs does not currently meet the needs of students. A review should
be undertaken by the provincial government to determine the actual incidence
rates of students with special needs and the actual costs of providing programs
and services for these students to ensure adequate funding is provided for all
students to achieve the standards set by the provincial government.
Targeted Funding
The Alberta School Boards Association believes targeted funding should be
minimized and additional funding for school boards should acknowledge initiatives
that boards already have in place.
Curriculum Implementation
Proposal
The Alberta School Boards Association believes that courses should be implemented
at the school level once Alberta Learning has met the following criteria:
(1) Collaboration and consultation with educational partners.
(2) A pilot has been conducted to identify needed resource materials, staff
in-service requirements, new course impact on existing program
offerings, impact on existing courses (e.g. math impacting chemistry and physics)
new course impact on prior grade levels, impact for high school diploma requirements,
and implication to prerequisite standings for post-secondary entrance.
(3) Teachers have been in-serviced to ensure high levels of student performance
and quality teaching.
(4) Textbooks and resource materials are available at least one semester prior
to mandated course implementation dates.
Amendment to Long-Range
Policy 8.L.06
(Early Childhood Services)
The Alberta School Boards Association believes that Kindergarten programming
be incorporated into the basic education program and fully funded.
Amendment to Long-Range
Policy 4.L.04
(Technology)
The Alberta School Boards Association believes that provincial standards for
the use of technology within the classroom and for administrative purpose should
be established. The Alberta School Boards Association believes that the resources
necessary to meet and maintain these standards should be provided and that the
allocation of funding should ensure equity of access to technical equipment,
program software, in-service, evergreening, bandwidth, and connectivity throughout
all school jurisdictions.
Deed of Trust of the
Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan
The Alberta School Boards Association reaffirms existing policy position 2.L.06
that
"The Alberta School Boards Association shall seek alteration of the
Deed of Trust of the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan to allow representation
on the Board of Trustees that is in proportion to the premium paid."
For more information contact: Suzanne Lundrigan, ASBA Manager Communications at 1.780.451.7122.
The Alberta School Boards Association serves and represents all Alberta’s public, separate and francophone school boards.
