Alberta School Boards Association calls budget "hold-the-line"
Release date: March 22, 2006
Against the backdrop of a huge government surplus, today’s hold-the-line budget was a disappointment for school boards, who need much more funding to build and repair schools, said Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) President Maureen Kubinec.
“School buildings are the top priority for school boards right now. We’re beginning to wonder how many school roofs have to be on the brink of collapse before we get the money we need to repair our schools -- let alone build schools in areas that need them?” said Kubinec referencing the Calgary Board of Education’s recent experience with a school that had to shut down because of a failing roof. “The minister of education is meeting with school board chairs on March 24 – I hope he comes with a list of the projects we are moving forward on.”
Characterizing the 3 per cent increase in the base per student grant as hold-the-line, Kubinec warned the increase would not keep pace with the growing costs of utilities, transportation, and teacher salaries and benefits.” Over the past 10 years, increases to teacher salaries have come in higher than increases to base grants and that doesn’t take into account the costs associated with benefits like Health Spending Accounts,” said Kubinec.
“These settlements are the result of an unbalanced bargaining system which favors the provincial Alberta Teachers’ Association,” said Kubinec, who said she hoped Education Minister Gene Zwozdesky would take steps to change the bargaining system.
“The Learning Commission recommended the government set up an Employer Bargaining Association for school boards, to fix this imbalance. The ASBA supports this change and we proposed a model to the minister last April. We hope to hear on March 24 that he will create this EBA so we can address a very expensive structural flaw in Alberta’s bargaining system,” said Kubinec. “The reality is only the government can legislate the EBA. Frankly, if government chooses not to change the bargaining system – then as the sole funder of public education – the government will have to fund the results of the system it created. March 24 will be an important day for school boards and students.”
For more information contact: Suzanne Lundrigan, ASBA Communications at 1.780.451.7122.
The Alberta School Boards Association serves and represents all Alberta’s public, separate and francophone school boards.
