#TakeThePledge Municipal Elections 2021
Election day is Monday, October 18, 2021!
#TakeThePledge today to vote for your school board trustee/s as part of the municipal general elections.
***Content from submissions, including first name, town/city and why you believe it is important to vote, may be shared publicly on the Alberta School Boards Association website and/or social media.
Municipal Elections 2021
As part of the municipal elections, Albertans will elect not just a mayor, city council and senate nominees, but also school board trustees. You may be familiar with the general role of school board trustees: they advocate for students, schools and community members; they allocate resources; they approve policies. However, the value of this local governance role cannot be overstated.
What do school boards do?
In Alberta, citizens elect school boards to act for the legislature in their local schools and communities. School boards exist because of the belief that government – and decisions – made closest to the people being governed are the most effective.
School boards are advocates for Alberta’s children – assessing educational policies to support what is best for the development of the whole child.
School boards are champions for education – keeping the positive image of schools before the community to ensure that education is given a high priority and the school community is aware of school authorities’ accomplishments.
School boards are partners in education– working with and being the voice of parents and public community members to ensure the best education possible for all children, everywhere in Alberta.
School boards are strategic governors– setting strategic priorities in light of community expectations, available resources, needs of students, and sound educational practice.
School boards are political officials– reporting to the public electorate through the democratic process, school boards are a government entity charged with the responsibility to govern the affairs of the school authority under the Education Act.
School boards are evaluators– ensuring policies and practices are effective; ensuring effective management of resources; overseeing the effectiveness of leadership; ensuring policies are implemented in a fair and just manner and effective in achieving intended results for students.
School boards are communicators– interacting with the many groups and people who have a stake in K-12 education.
School boards are policy makers– developing policies that guide the administration and other employees in achieving the School Board’s goals for student success and wellness.
School boards are financial planners– ensuring transparency to the public for the dollars spent in the school authority and the results for public investment, in addressing the needs of students and the wants of the community.
School boards are legislators– setting local policy to meet local contextual needs and help drive public policy changes at the provincial level.
School boards are lobbyists– communicating with all orders of government to make sure that local voices are heard by those who have the power to keep education needs high on the list of priorities.
School boards are a bridge– connecting with the community and sharing information of the school authority, the provincial government, and the public.
School boards make a difference– caring about the needs of children today and for the future; school boards provide important oversight into the education system ensuring parents’ voices, students’ needs and school community thinking, remain at the forefront in our education system.