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Hehr highlights double standard for public and private schools
Education received a fair amount of attention as the legislative assembly continued its spring sitting. Featured here are highlights of some of the issues raised in oral question period the week of February 21–23 before MLAs adjourned for a constituency week.
Funding for Private Schools
February 21—Kent Hehr (LIB—Calgary-Buffalo) asked Minister of Education Thomas Lukaszuk whether, given his desire to improve the openness and transparency of school board operations, he would require private schools to follow the same rules as public school boards. Lukaszuk replied that Bill 2, Education Act, speaks to the business of private schools. Hehr asked Lukaszuk whether private schools would be required “to put their stuff online in an open and transparent fashion.” Lukaszuk replied that private schools are accountable both for the funding they receive from Alberta Education and as registered for-profit or not-for-profit agencies. Hehr asked Lukaszuk whether private schools would be required “to be open and transparent in the same fashion [as public school boards] by posting their information online.” Pointing out that private schools receive 70 per cent of the funding allocated to public school boards, Lukaszuk replied. “They will be equally accountable for that 70 per cent of dollars that they receive from taxpayers.”
February 22—Hehr asked Lukaszuk to identify the future online location of private schools’ financial information. “I will have the same expectations for private school boards as I have for public school boards relevant to the portion of dollars that is appropriated to private schools from the public purse,” Lukaszuk replied. Hehr asserted that the public has the right to know what services private schools provide. Lukaszuk intimated that private schools are not accountable to government for the funds they raise themselves. Hehr asserted that the funding private schools receive from government goes into a big pot. He again asked Lukaszuk to identify the future online location of their financial information. Lukaszuk replied that choice is the reason why Albertans take pride in having one of the best education systems in the world. Noting that private schools provide a viable option, he said he would not shut them down.
Bullying in Private Schools
February 22—Hehr asked Lukaszuk whether he agrees that the same set of rules respecting bullying policies should apply to both public school boards and publicly funded private schools. Lukaszuk replied that he expects all learning institutions to provide a nurturing, welcoming and respectful environment for both students and staff.
Charter Schools
February 21—Moe Amery (PC—Calgary-East), suggesting that charter schools are here to stay, asked Lukaszuk whether he would commit to providing them with more permanence. “Charter schools in by far a majority of cases have proven themselves to be a viable option to which many parents choose to send their children, and that, frankly, is one of the pillars that makes Alberta education so strong, this child-focused, constructive, pedagogical competition among a variety of service providers of this high quality of education that we have,” Lukaszuk replied. “I can tell this honorable member to stay tuned because, indeed, this government wants to preserve what is constructive.” Amery asked Lukaszuk what he is doing to address the infrastructure challenges of charter schools. “I know that infrastructure issues need to be resolved,” Lukaszuk replied. Amery asked Lukaszuk whether he would consider raising Almadina Charter School’s enrolment cap of 600 students. Lukaszuk replied that he had been asked to look into charter schools’ enrolment caps, adding that news concerning those caps would “be unrolled in the near future.”
Education Funding
February 23—Hehr asked Lukaszuk why there are 450 fewer teachers in 2011/12 than in 2010/11 and whether school boards or government is to blame for the reduction. “There is no blame, and no one should be blamed for anything,” Lukaszuk replied. “Our school boards in Alberta have duly elected trustees, and they are the employers, and they make the staffing decisions.” Hehr asked Lukaszuk whether school boards or government is to blame for schools’ deferred maintenance debt of more than $1 billion. Lukaszuk replied that both school boards and government are living up to their responsibilities. Hehr asked Lukaszuk whether he stands by his comment of the preceding week that school boards are to blame for parents having to pay hundreds of dollars in school fees. “There are parents in Alberta who are concerned about school fees,” Lukaszuk replied. “Those school fees are put upon students by locally elected officials, by boards, and we will be reviewing those decisions. Again, there is no blame.”
