Alberta Education Partial Cutback on Cutback...

"I delivered"

 Thomas Lukaszuk, Alberta's Education Minister is taking full credit, he promised to look for money after the heavy $150 million cuts to post-secondary education - "and I delivered". $50 million will be distributed among institutions around the province. Read the whole story here.

Paperless Classrooms?

"Alberta Education informed school districts earlier this month the learning resources centre, an Edmonton warehouse that distributes printed textbooks and resources, will stop taking orders on Aug. 30."

Click here for more.

No More Grades on Report Cards?

A pilot project will be introduced in some Calgary schools next year eliminating numerical grades on report cards.  “Evident,” “emerging” or “support required” would replace "1 - 5" on reports to parents. There would be fewer (and maybe no) personal teacher's comments about our kids and reports would only be done twice per school year.

There hasn't been much, if any, public input about the project and even the trustees say they haven't been fully informed: click here.

Frank Bruseker, the ATA president has suggested that this would be a welcome change because teacher's wouldn't need to spend as much time on reporting student's progress. An interview with CBC can be heard here. David Grey at Calgary Eye Opener asks: "Are these changes about finding better ways to give parents feedback about how their kids are performing in school or are these changes about cutting down the workload for teachers"?

CAPC would like some help with parental response to this project. Please see this web page if you'd like to provide a voice.


From my point of view, teachers are going to spend a whole lot more time explaining to parents what 'emerging' means than if they just wrote down a 3.

CBE: Confusion Over Pay Raises

Over the weekend some very confusing information came out in the press about executive and 'non-union' pay raises at the CBE.  Don Braid wrote a blistering column about the "stupidity" of the board and in an editorial the next day Pat Cochrane (Chair of the Board of Trustees) defends the raise as an item that was budgeted for work done last year.  At a time when the fiscal environment for public funds is so dire, executive pay raises can be a hard pill to swallow.


Here is Don Braid's article and here is Pat Cochrane's defence. And with more on the subject, here is Richard Cuthbertson'offering in today's Herald.

From the CBE website, www.cbe.ab.ca

news release

March 22, 2013
for immediate release
PDF version of news release

CBE administration freezes salaries for senior leaders

CALGARY—The chief superintendent of schools for the Calgary Board of Education is freezing salaries for senior leaders for 2013-14.

“Faced with a difficult budget, we committed to keep students first by looking everywhere to balance the budget,” says Naomi Johnson. “In a week, we will present all of our strategies to balance the budget, including this decision about executive compensation.”

This decision applies to the superintendent team for the fiscal year starting Sept. 1, 2013.

The decision is distinct from possible increases that may apply to non-unionized or “exempt” employees based on performance last year and effective in the current budget year. An allocation for this potential expenditure was approved in May 2012 for the current fiscal year, which runs Sept. 1, 2012 to Aug. 31, 2013. The CBE’s exempt employees are a varied group that includes positions such as engineers, executive administrative assistants and advisors in Human Resources.

“We are still crunching numbers and weighing options to balance the budget,” Johnson adds. “Like our decision to keep transportation fees flat for next year, we are announcing this strategy early so we can all refocus on putting students first.”

Media Relations Calgary Board of Education 403-819-2317 mediarelations@cbe.ab.ca

CBE Board of Trustees Does Not Support Proposed Agreement

The following letter, written by Pat Cochrane, Chair for the CBE Board of Trustees, can be found on the CBE website or by clicking on the link below.

"Dear Calgarians,

You elected the Board of Trustees to represent you and the best interests of Calgary students. Your Trustees have been reviewing the proposed terms of an agreement for the province’s teachers since we saw it for the first time on Friday.

The proposed agreement is being promoted as a pathway to labor peace that holds the line on costs for three years. We do not believe that this will be the outcome of this agreement. The framework has obvious benefits for teachers and government. Benefits for students are conspicuously absent from the agreement. Based on our analysis, we conclude this is not a good deal for students. Consequently, your Board of Trustees cannot support the proposed agreement."

Read the full letter here.

Doom and Gloom on March 7?

On March 7, Alberta's provincial budget will be released. The Calgary Herald reported that the budget will see a 0.7 percent increase on program spending and a $300 million operational deficit. The government has warned of a $6 billion shortfall on energy revenue because of over projected oil prices.

Read about this story in the Calgary Herald here.

According to a story in the Calgary Herald, some Albertans say it's time the public had a serious, engaged debate about what should happen next. They suggest that Albertans both today and tomorrow will pay the price for a lack of fiscal discipline if the government doesn't create a long-term plan. The article suggests that overly optimistic choices by government about the potential for energy revenues lent to over spending. Albertans have wanted to "keep taxes low" but "increase our spending very quickly." "Spending, it seemed, was what Albertans wanted."

Read more in the Calgary Herald, here.

So, with the potential doom and gloom quickly approaching on March 7, what does this mean for our children's education? Is it as good as it gets? Can education get better or will the budget make damaging cuts to the system?

Last week I attended a Calgary Board of Education Trustee Hosted Meeting for Area V, open to representatives of school councils. The evening, hosted by trustees Pamela King and Pat Cochrane, was centred around an open discussion on two topics: "The Here and Now" and "How Do We Prepare Your Children For Their Future?" The attendees were asked, as parents, what they held most sacred to them under the education system, what they could conceivably let go of and what ideas parents possibly had on how to optimize funding. The conversation was held under the knowledge that on March 7, Provincial Budget Day, the Education Minister will be giving school boards "less hopeful" news. Concepts of teaching children responsibility, creativity, communication, integrity and respect were also discussed at the meeting. A key component of this discussion was centred around the notion of assessing children.

I personally found the evening to be engaging and an excellent opportunity to discuss education with other school councils in Calgary, as well as with the board of trustees. Although the topics discussed were difficult, some common threads were agreed upon amongst the majority of those who attended the meeting. Personalization of learning, core academics, respect, attention to diversity, creativity, resiliency to change and good quality teaching were the bottom line essentials of education to those that attended the meeting.

With that said, let's hope that on March 7 and the months thereafter, Alberta Education and the Calgary Board of Education will continue to deliver the essential education we expect our children have the right to.

Minister of Education's Conference Call Tonight

This is a reminder that tonight from 7-9 pm, Education Minister Jeff Johnson will be hosting a teleconference with school councils and parents to continue the discussion about priorities for Alberta's education system. He will be co-hosting with Brad Vonkeman, President of the Alberta School Councils' Association.

To find out more about the call and to register click here.

From Karen Drummond, Communications Advisor for the CBE:

Making school councils the best they can be

The Board of Trustees initiated some changes to how CBE school councils operate this year. This was part of an effort to strengthen the Board’s connection to school councils, and is meant to serve as a starting point for improvement. Some of the key changes are as follows:

§ the creation of the “council of school councils”;

§ a different approach to system-wide and area meetings with school councils;

§ the development of the 2012-13 school council handbook;

§ more opportunities to connect with the Board of Trustees; and

§ a new date and process for submitting school council annual reports.

Another significant change is less emphasis on the key communicator role. That does not mean the role has been eliminated. What it means is that CBE administration now needs to examine how the role functions in light of these changes.

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School council survey results posted

An online survey was circulated to gather information about school councils early in the school year. The survey was open Sept. 28 to Oct. 18. There were 49 people who started the survey and of those, 42 who completed all questions on the survey. Another school council survey will be done closer to the end of the school year to compare perceptions and opinions.

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Parents advised about possible bus delays

Our school bus carriers are currently experiencing a shortage of school bus drivers. While the carriers are working hard to recruit new drivers, this shortage of drivers combined with winter weather conditions can cause delays for some school bus routes.

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Grade 4-12 students to complete Tell Them From Me survey

Beginning this December, an online school survey calledTell Them From Me (TTFM) will allow students in Grades 4-12 to give their anonymous input into school improvement initiatives.

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Kindergarten registration begins Jan. 14

Kindergarten registration for the 2013-14 school year begins on Jan. 14.

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Buy tickets for a night with the Hitmen Jan. 18

CBE students, staff and their families can buy discounted tickets to the Hitmen game Jan. 18. A portion of all ticket purchases will support the Fuel for School Breakfast Program.

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School councils eligible for grants from The Calgary Foundation

There are upcoming deadlines of Jan. 3 and Feb. 18 to apply for Neighbour Grants.

To apply for Stepping Stones grants, you can apply by midnight of the first day of every month.



For more information on these issues click here.

Should Alberta Fund Private Schools?

Do you think your tax dollars should fund private schools?

Liberal MLA Kent Hehr said Monday that the province could save up to $50 million a year by stopping the subsidies. Hehr believes in the public system and states that although it is a right to not take part in the public school system, it is not a right for taxpayers to fund that choice.


Read the story here.

No Zero Policy Discussed at ASBA Conference

ABSA (Alberta School Boards Association) held its fall general meeting yesterday. The association's conference runs November 18-20 in Edmonton. The public discussion was about student testing in the province. Albertans are being asked about testing and marks in schools, including what the appropriate assessment tools for students are and who should apply them.


Read more about the story on Global News: Global Edmonton | No-zero issue sparks larger discussion about student assessment in Alberta

CAPSC Newsletter: November 2012

In which:

• Upcoming meetings
• Membership Dues
• Council of School Councils Update
• Online Learning

are discussed...

Investing in Education: RESP's

$5238.00 - this is the 2010/2011 cost per year of classes at the University of Calgary humanities program.  This doesn't include any living expenses or campus fees.  The cost is going up. In fact since 2001, the costs have increased 32% and according to this article, tuition fees are increasing three times faster than inflation. Graduates are taking an average of 14 years to pay back their $27,000 (average) of students loans.

There are many people who feel education should be free for Canada's citizens, paid for by the government and subsidized by foreign students as it is in some countries (Germany, France, Italy, Norway, etc.).  Maybe someday that will be the case, but for now, a very expensive Canadian education is the reality.

There are ways to help absorb the impact when the time comes; bursaries, scholarships, and grants are very helpful if your student has the marks. Another option is RESP's. A registered education savings plan is a great way to plan for the future.

I came across an article this morning in The Windsor Star's 'money' section that has a great overview of RESP's; every family who aspires to send their kids to a post-secondary institution should consider this investment. As the article says, its better to start as early as possible to increase the benefit but its not too late even up to your child's 15th birthday year.  The government kicks in an additional 20% of your contribution up to $500 each year. 

Alberta's New Education Act

On Tuesday, Alberta's new Education Act was introduced in the legislature. The new bill contains anti-bullying measures, acknowledging that all education partners, including parents, students, teachers, administrators and trustees, need to work together to ensure a safe learning environment. Bill 3 formally recognizes the role of parents as a child's most important teacher. In the new act, the mandatory age a child must stay in school was raised from sixteen years to seventeen.


Read all the details here.

PAT Results Lauded in Newsletter

This month's newsletter from Premiere Alison Redford outlines some great news about Alberta's learners. Showcasing the results of the PAT's from last year, the article reports:

"Students in Alberta’s schools are increasingly demonstrating excellence in provincial achievement tests and diploma exams."

Education Policy Comparison

With our provincial election looming (April 23, 2012), I wanted to provide a quick breakdown of the education policies from each of the four front running parties.

This is a very high level overview and there is a lot more to the policies than this but these are some of the starting points. For a truly 'educated' decision on election day - read through the policies. These statements/promises come directly from the web sites (and mouths) of the parties and any promises they make are theirs to keep not mine to answer for... but I would love to hear your thoughts about some of this - use the comment link to send them out.

PC Alberta:
"In addition to our Budget 2012 commitments we will build 50 schools and modernize 70 more, so that our students have access to the education they need to compete on a global stage. "

"...$500 teachers tax credit, which is a reflection of our appreciation for all that teachers give out of their own pockets..."

"Progressive Conservative Leader Alison Redford promised Wednesday to build 50 new schools and renovate 70 more over the next four years at a cost of $2.4 billion." - source

Wildrose
"We will depoliticize school construction by allowing locally elected school boards to decide where schools should be built, instead of government bureaucrats in Edmonton. "

"We will empower public, Catholic and charter schools by allowing funding (operational and maintenance) to follow the student to the school each student attends"

"We will work with teachers and stakeholders to replace Provincial Achievement Tests with a new standardized model that evaluates a student’s actual improvement and comprehension of subject matter "

Danielle Smith will eliminate school fees - family pack.

Liberals
"The Alberta Liberal Party would create regulations and standards for a play-based Alberta curriculum run by qualified, trained staff, and fund a $100 million expansion of government subsidized early childhood education, rolled out starting in high needs areas."

"Leader Raj Sherman says his party, if elected Monday, would develop new schools and redevelop old ones to house community services, medical centres and libraries. " - source

 "Ending school fees. Provincial school lunch program. Three-stage plan to eliminate post-secondary tuition. Forgive student debt for graduates who stay and work in Alberta. Increased funding for arts, culture and sports." - from platform package


NDP
"will stand up for affordable, quality education by putting a stop to school closures, school fees, childcare shortages and rising university costs."

"Introduce a childcare system that moves towards a maximum daily cost of $25 per child, with a $9 per day cap for after school care"

"Prohibit school instruction fees... reduce post-secondary tuition fees by 10%, forgive portions of student loans" - source

See you at the polls - April 23, 2012

Catholic School Board Candidate Forum

Election forum to profile issues related to education

The Board of Trustees of the Calgary Catholic School District is hosting a non-partisan election forum to discuss issues related to education in our province.

DATE:   Tuesday, April 17, 2012
TIME:   6:30 p.m.
LOCATION:  Bishop Carroll High School (4624 Richard Rd. SW)
Calgary and area candidates representing all of the political parties have been invited to attend, and we hope that you will join us for this conversation. Public education and students’ needs are important issues for Calgary and area voters who are directly affected by the policies and decisions of the Alberta provincial government.

The forum is being held to give Calgary Catholic parents and other community members the opportunity to meet and discuss key education issues and students’ needs with the local candidates running in the provincial election.

CAPSC Meeting

Please join the Calgary Association of Parents and School Councils for our first meeting of 2012, which will be held Thursday March 22nd at 7:00pm, AE Cross School.  We welcome all to attend.

- This month we welcome Chief Superintendent, Naomi Johnson, who will be discussing the budget

- Trustee Bazinet (Wads 12 and 14) will be joining us, as well as Trustee Ferguson (Wards 3 and 4), who will be discussing the Education Act

- We are also pleased to welcome a local Principal, who will be speaking on their involvement with parents and the school council

- Following the discussions we will be facilitating a conversation on the accomplishments of our school councils.  If your school council has a great example of a success story, please feel free to bring it to the meeting or share it with our Executive.

The Calgary Association of Parents and School Councils is an incorporated not-for-profit association that provides relevant and ongoing information and support to parents and school councils in the Calgary Board of Education. Our monthly meetings offer a forum for discussion of important education issues amongst parents and with key education stakeholders such as trustees, CBE administration and Alberta Education.  Check out our website at www.capsc.ca and make sure to sign up for our monthly e-newsletter.  Please feel free to forward this information to any interested parents.

 

Leanne Long
Communications Coordinator
Calgary Association of Parents and School Councils

Alberta School Council Association - AGM

Every year, the Wilma Hansen School Parents Association sponsors up to two parent delegates to attend the Alberta School Councils’ Association Conference and Annual General Meeting (ASCA AGM) in Edmonton.  This conference is an amazing way to gain an insight into how the Education System functions within the Province. 

Hundreds of delegates from all corners of Alberta meet to exchange ideas, attend seminars and take part in round table discussions on the latest ‘hot topics’.

This year’s session topics include:

·       Online Community Connections

·       The ABCs of Mental Health

·       B.Y.O.B. Workshop (Bring Your Own Bylaws)

·       Anaphylaxis Canada “The First Kiss”

·       Digital Parent Resources

·       Student Wellness

·       School Improvement and Student Success

·       Straight Talk - The Culture of Drugs

·       Education Funding in Alberta

·       What are COSCs and How Do They Help?

·       Student Assessment and Standardized Testing

·       Bill 18 and Education

The ASCA Conference will be held on the weekend of April 20-22.  The event starts on Friday evening with registration and a welcome social. A (very) full Saturday agenda starts with breakfast, plenary and breakout sessions, address from the Minister of Education, preparation for the AGM and an evening banquet.  A resource gallery is presented, with over 25 exhibitors displaying products, services and information of value for parents in public education.  Sunday's business meeting starts early, after breakfast, and continues until all resolutions proposed for policy are debated and voted upon, as well as appointment of the new governing Board.

Please review the AGM package online at http://www.albertaschoolcouncils.ca/  Click on “ASCA 2012 Connection” and “AGM 2012 Information”  for details.  Some of the Resolution topics for this year are:

·       Scheduling of Provincial Achievement Tests

·       Assessment Measures of 21st Century Student Success

·       Single Enrolment Birth date across the Province of Alberta

The Wilma Hansen School Council will be reviewing the 2012 Resolutions starting at our meeting on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 7pm in the library.  Everyone is welcome.  If you are interested in learning more, or want to attend the conference on behalf of our Council, please come to the Council meeting and put your name forward. 

The Conference Registration deadline is April 10, 2012, so don't miss an opportunity to be involved, to be heard, and make a difference in public education.

Power Bills and Pencils vs. Teacher Raises

Photo: Bruce Edwards, edmontonjournal.com

Tom Lukaszuk, Alberta's Education Minister says in an article published today by the Calgary Herald that the final offer is on the table for teacher's salary increases.  The overall budget allows for little to no teacher raises over the next three years.  The teacher's union's current contract is set to expire in August of this year.