School boards gather in Red Deer June 5 and 6 for Alberta School Boards Association’s meeting

Release date: June 2, 2006

Three hundred and thirty trustees and administrators, representing 61 school boards from across the province, will gather in Red Deer June 5 and 6 for the Alberta School Boards Association’s annual spring meeting. The two-day meeting takes place at the Capri Hotel at 3310 - 50th Avenue.

Media are welcome to attend. The program brochure is posted on the ASBA website www.asba.ab.ca. Media kits will be available at the ASBA registration desk.

Monday June 5 Highlights
The business session starts at 9 a.m. on Monday. School boards will vote on the ASBA’s annual budget and elect the association’s president and vice-president for the 2006-2007 term. School boards will also be asked to consider policy positions calling for: money to meet class size guidelines, immediate additional funding to build and repair schools, a review of rural transportation funding and an end to Credit Enrolment Unit audits. See your media kit and the ASBA website www.asba.ab.ca for a full list of the emergent resolutions to be proposed to the assembly.

Tuesday June 6 Highlights
· The Hon. Gene Zwozdesky, Minister of Education, will speak at 9 a.m.
· Keynote speaker Wayne Hulley will present after the minister of education. Hulley will talk about the characteristics of schools that make a difference for students. He is the author of Harbors of Hope, a book that looks at effective planning processes for schools.
· Professional development sessions will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Session topics include: strategic planning for results, community relations for school boards, a dialogue with the deputy minister of education (a.m. only) and the Better Together Schools Project – a look at school communities that are creating and implementing substance abuse prevention strategies. (p.m.only)

For more information contact: , ASBA Manager Communications at 1.780.451.7122 or 1.780.940.1671 (cell).

The Alberta School Boards Association serves and represents all Alberta’s public, separate and francophone school boards.