CAPSC Stakeholder Report December 20th

Chair Cochrane, Trustees

My name is Eryn Kelly and I am the Co-President of the Calgary Association of Parents and School Councils (CAPSC). Leslie Newton my Co-President is also with me. 

We understand the Report from the Working Group Established to Review Board Meeting Procedures is a series of recommendations that is intended to bring the conversation around public engagement and governance to a public meeting of the Board of Trustees and that no decisions have been made.  We did speak with Chair Cochrane earlier in the day, shared our views and asked questions regarding this report, and were assured that the intent is to improve the public engagement process, not limit public input at board meetings.

We would like to take this opportunity to provide some preliminary feedback regarding this working document.  

CAPSC recognizes that there is a need to improve the public engagement process with the Board of Trustees as it relates to board meetings. We would like the board to confirm for us that parents and members of the public will have the opportunity to provide input and help shape that process. 

 Stakeholder reports and public inquiries can be limiting and in particular, the stakeholder report can be an intimidating form of engagement for many parents so welcome a process that allows for fuller dialogue and a less formal opportunity to engage.  However, until we have a better idea of what these strategic communication dialogues will look like and how they may impact these reports and inquiries, we ask that they not be suspended.

As for the recommendations that are related to governance, we believe that the public needs a more detailed rationale for the proposed changes and how the new processes will ensure enhanced transparency and accountability.

We look forward to learning more as trustees discuss and debate the contents of this working report at tonight's meeting.  We will be sharing what we have learned with our members and will invite their questions and comments. We will share this feedback with the Board. 

Thank you for your time

Alberta Education: Fall Budget Update

In a news release today, Alberta Education shared the Fall Update to the 2011/2012 Budget that offers a provincial overview of how school jurisdictions spent their portion of the $107M in additional funding from the province. Education Minister, Thomas Lukaszuk, observed that, '“Like any investment, Albertans want to be assured the dollars went to the right place and improved the overall learning experience of students. They can be confident that this is the case.”'

The update indicates that approximately 623 teachers and 397 support staff were hired throughout the province for a total of nearly $88M. Another $19M was spent on technology, equipment/materials and teacher professional development.

In a report submitted by the Calgary Board of Education that forms part of this update, the entire $19.2M of additional funding went out to schools and was spent on staff. Schools hired 159.45 FTE teachers and 64.48 FTE support staff.

Of the $19.2M of funding, $4.2M was directed to the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) by Alberta Education. The CBE used this money to hire 44.97 FTE positions to support Personalized Learning school-based projects.

The remaining $15M was used to hire 179.16 FTEs at the school level. Schools hired staff to support class size, English Language Learners, Special Education students, enhancement of supports for all learners, second language learning, enrolment growth (decline), Knowledge and Employability courses and Career and Technology Studies. A chart outlining the number of schools that supported these categories is included in the report.

CBE Key Communique: Calgary Herald Corrects Error

The following article appeared in the latest Key Communique from CBE Communications:

Calgary Herald corrects error
The Calgary Herald has published a correction to a story carried on the front of the City Section on Wednesday.

The Herald incorrectly reported on Dec. 7 that the Calgary Board of Education finished the 2010-11 fiscal year with a “surplus," finishing the year “$10.9M in black.” In fact, the CBE had an operating deficit. To balance the budget the CBE had to use reserves.

The Herald also reported incorrectly that the CBE had "spent $7.7 million more than in its rainy day fund." To be correct, this should have said “spent less.”

While the original story appeared on Page one of the city section, the correction is a brief item published today on Page A2. The online version of the story has been corrected.

"This is at least the second time this year that incorrect stories about the CBE have been front-page headlines in the Herald," says Richard Peter, the CBE's chief communications officer. "Everyone makes mistakes but it's disappointing in two ways. Accurate reporting would not have been front-page news and the correction never has the same profile as the original story."

The other error that grabbed headlines was a story about noon supervision fees. A front-page Herald story on May 14 incorrectly reported that the CBE proposed to increase noon supervision fees by 40 per cent. In fact the proposed increase was five per cent—which is significantly less newsworthy. The correction appeared on Page A2.

Read the latest online story from the Herald.

CBE fall budget update including additional funding

The Calgary Board of Education issued a news release today concerning the quarterly update that will include information on additional funding received this fall. The text of the release follows:

The Calgary Board of Education's Administration presents an updated budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year to the Board of Trustees on Dec. 6.

The operating budget for the school year is approved annually by the Board of Trustees in June. In the fall, after enrolment figures are finalized as of Sept. 30, Administration provides a budget update to the Board of Trustees for approval.

The 2011 fall budget update is largely unchanged from June.

Budget revenue of $1.130 billion is up $30.2 million since June as a result of:

-$19.2 million of additional, one-time funding from the province announced in October;
-$2.5 million of funding to support inclusive education ( Action on Inclusion);
-$1.0 million for transportation fuel;
-Base funding increases of $1.4 million related to enrolment growth; and
-Use of $6.1 million of revenue that was carried forward from 2010-11 to complete planned initiatives.

When the provincial government returned $107 million to the education budget in October the CBE portion was $19.2 million. The CBE distributed the funding directly to principals, enabling them to decide the best way for the money to be used in their schools. The funding enabled the CBE to hire the equivalent of 224 full-time, positions in schools; 159.5 full-time equivalent positions (FTEs) were teachers and 64.7 FTEs were support staff.

An inclusive education system means that children and youth, regardless of their ability or disability, language, cultural background, gender or age are valued in the same way.

The provincial government reinstated funding to offset increases in the price of diesel for school buses.

The total CBE enrolment as of Sept. 30 was 104,212 students. This is 880 more students than the June forecast. The increased enrolment, which is funded by the government, translated into $1.4 million of additional funding.

The report to the Board of Trustees entitled "November 30, 2011 Budget Report Update to the 2011/12 Operating Budget" is available at this link.

CBE News Release: Year-end financial Report

The Calgary Board of Education issued a news release today highlighting their 2010/2011 fiscal year. The text of the release follows:

The Board of Trustees will review the audited 2010-11 financial statements for the Calgary Board of Education during the public meeting on Dec. 6.

Highlights for the fiscal year that ended Aug. 31, 2011, include:

-balanced operating results for the year;
-revenue was $1.050 billion—91.4 per cent of which comes from the provincial government;
-expenses were $1.055 billion—76 per cent of which is salaries and benefits; and
-administration costs were 3.8 per cent of the operating budget—better than the four per cent provincial spending cap.

Balancing the budget required the system to use $8.7 million of reserves. The requirement to use reserves is less than the $16.4 million forecast. The difference reflects system and school-based decisions to slow spending in the current year when they know the next budget will be tight. The result across our 221-school system is that about $7.7 million budgeted was not spent in 2010-11. This represents a variance of just 0.8 per cent of the year’s operating budget.

The $7.7 million of reserves not used in 2010-11 is earmarked to be spent in 2011-12 to complete planned initiatives.

"The financial statements demonstrate how we responsibly manage public funding to educate more than 100,000 students," says Naomi Johnson, Chief Superintendent of Schools. "The ultimate measure of our success is student learning. Our academic results confirm 2010-11 was an exceptional year."

The financial statements remain drafts until they are approved by the Board of Trustees. Drafts are available in reports for the public meeting on Dec. 6 at this link.

Additional highlights of the financial report will be available in the CBE's combined Annual Education Results Report and Three-year Education Plan. The report will posted at www.cbe.ab.ca after it has been approved by the Board of Trustees.