Page Content
Shelley Svidal
While the government’s Health Policy Framework continues to dominate the spring sitting of the Alberta legislature, which began February 22, public education has not been ignored. Questions related to teachers’ funded pension liability, the outstanding recommendations of Alberta’s Commission on Learning and the March 15 closure of Marlborough School in Calgary have engendered some lively repartee during daily question period. Below are highlights of the proceedings of interest to teachers:
Collective Bargaining and Status of School Administrators
March 14—Jack Flaherty (LIB—St. Albert) asked
Education Minister Gene Zwozdesky how school boards are supposed to negotiate with teachers given the lack of action on recommendation 81 of Alberta’s Commission on Learning, which calls for a new approach to collective bargaining. Zwozdesky replied that there is a long-standing tradition of local bargaining, which some boards are prepared to abandon and others are not. He added that he would discuss the recommendation at his March 24 meeting with board chairs. Alluding to recommendation 78, which urges the government to establish a Council of Education Executives, Flaherty asked Zwozdesky whether principals are in or out of the ATA. Zwozdesky replied that principals are currently members of the ATA. He added that the government is looking at the implications of the recommendation for human resources and infrastructure.
Teachers’ Unfunded Pension Liability
March 14—Rick Miller (LIB—Edmonton-Rutherford) asked Minister Zwozdesky when he would address teachers’ unfunded pension liability. Acknowledging that the issue is not an easy one to address, Zwozdesky observed that, because other pension plans have unfunded liabilities, it is difficult to address one liability and not the others. He added that the government is concerned about the impact of the unfunded liability on teacher recruitment and retention. Miller asked Zwozdesky at what grade students learn about the effects of compound interest. Zwozdesky replied that he had learned about the effects of compound interest in Grade 8.
Class Size
March 16—Carol Haley (PC—Airdrie–Chestermere) asked Minister Zwozdesky why some classrooms in her constituency still have more students than the number recommended by Alberta’s Commission on Learning. Noting that the government had already provided $200 million to hire 1,600 additional teachers, Zwozdesky acknowledged that "we have a little bit more work to do in that area." Haley asked Zwozdesky how he intends to address insufficient student space related to the recommendation. Zwozdesky replied that he had discussed the issue with school boards in November 2005 and would address it again during his March 24 meeting with board chairs. Pointing out that growth in Airdrie–Chestermere ranges from 10 to 20 per cent per year, Haley asked Zwozdesky when he would announce five new schools for her constituency. Zwozdesky replied that, while he would like to make such an announcement, "I just don’t have the money at this time."
Full-Day Kindergarten
March 16—Describing Minister Zwozdesky as a "ditherer," Ray Martin (NDP—Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview) asked him when he would make a decision on recommendation 3 of Alberta’s Commission on Learning, which calls for full-day kindergarten, especially for at-risk students. "Soon," promised Zwozdesky.
Special Needs Funding
March 16—Suggesting that 78 per cent of classrooms have at least one student with special needs and that the standards for special education introduced in 2004 do not come close to meeting those needs, Flaherty asked Minister Zwozdesky to assure parents and teachers that students with special needs would be properly educated. Zwozdesky said that, while funding may be an issue, parents have told him they are happy with the standards. Flaherty asked Zwozdesky how long parents would have to wait for relief. Zwozdesky replied that, over the past five years, special needs funding has almost doubled from $170 million to $340 million. He added that 36 parent link centres have been established across the province to provide early intervention through developmental screening.
Marlborough School
March 15—Moe Amery (PC—Calgary-East) reported that Calgary School District had closed Marlborough School due to concerns about the structural integrity of its roof. He asked Minister Zwozdesky what he was doing to ensure the students did not lose any instructional hours. Thanking the jurisdiction for acting quickly, Zwozdesky replied that the students had been dispersed to neighbouring schools to continue their education. Amery asked Zwozdesky how long the government had been aware of concerns about the roof. Zwozdesky replied that Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation had given the jurisdiction $25,000 some time ago to commission an engineering assessment. "I think it’s important to stress here that there have been no casualties," he said.
Also In the News
