April 19th CBE Trustees Board Meeting

We have had some inquiries from our members regarding the April 19th, CBE budget/board meeting. Leslie and I both attended the meeting and will provide an update for you in the next newsletter. We have also submitted letters to Chair Cochrane and Trustees Bazinet and Taylor hoping to provide some clarification around pecuniary issues. We have asked for clarification on what Trustee’s are advised as to what a ‘pecuniary conflict of interest’ is and what guidelines (policy and/or legal) they are provided with to inform themselves as to when this may arise in their public work. We have asked for clarification as to why Trustee Taylor's request for pecuniary interest clarification was not added to the agenda.  

We have expressed our  concerns to hear Trustee’s claim that they were provided specific legal advice from CBE lawyers that having a child attend a CBE school or having a spouse who works for the CBE precluded them from engaging in ANY of the budget discussion. This is especially puzzling given we are aware that Trustees with a spouse working for the CBE or having a child in a CBE school have engaged in past budget debates and votes. 

We will share the responses as soon as they become available. 

Eryn Kelly

Co-President of CAPSC

CAPSC Question Regarding Upcoming Budget Submitted to Trustees

CAPSC made a submission during the Public Question Period at last night's regular meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Parents and School Councils are anxiously waiting for information regarding budget impacts at the school level particularly around staffing allocations. Is there a timeline in place for the RAM deployment of instructional resources to schools and when this information might be available for discussion with school councils?

Chief Superintendent, Naomi Johnson, responded that it has been three weeks since the provincial budget was tabled at the Legislature. Administration is looking closely at resources centrally and have met with principals. The tentative date for the RAM allocations to go out to schools is April 21. Administration will be meeting again with principals next week with more details around implications. A timeline is being worked on that will outline the process through to June when the budget will be presented to Trustees for their approval. Ms. Johnson hopes to have more information for the following evening's CAPSC meeting. She also indicated that Ms. Meyers, Superintendent, Finance and Business Services, would also be in attendance.