When it comes to the newly elected UCP government, both the St. Albert Public Schools and the Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools share the same concern over funding freezes.
“That's always a concern,” said Joe Becigneul, chair of the Greater St. Albert Catholic School board. “The kids are our future and so we've got funded accordingly.”
As part of the United Conservative Party’s platform, Alberta premier-elect Jason Kenney said he would either keep the same level of funding for schools, or increase it.
But Glenys Edwards, chair of the St. Albert Public School board, said the board is worried the UCP government will freeze further funding. Regardless, the board is currently working through next year’s budget and is approaching it with optimism.
“We're basing it on an optimistic view, that there will be a continuation of the level of support we have already received,” she said, adding the board would adjust its budget if needed.
School boards across Alberta are already feeling tight constraints around its funding for transportation, maintenance and providing supports for students with special needs, she said.
If funds aren’t increased, Edwards worries the money will start to flow out of the classrooms, and into transportation or “look after our aging buildings.”
She hopes the government will collaborate with Alberta Health Services to increase mental health support for students across its schools.
Becigneul said the Catholic school board is also currently working through next year’s budget, and has highlighted areas that might not receive funds next year.
One item in particular is the provincial School Nutrition Program, which the NDP introduced a couple of years ago. Through the program, some schools under the Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools receive food to dish out to students.
Overall, however, Becigneul said he anticipates the school system to get the funding it needs to operate its classrooms.
Kenney is also looking at education reforms, which could include reviewing how provincial diplomas are weighted, as well as changes to protections for LGBTQ students.
Currently diploma scores constitute 30 per cent of a student’s overall grade. The UCP government is considering reverting back to having the tests represent 50 per cent of overall grades.
Edwards said she hopes the current system will stay intact.
“We believe that a classroom assessment assess far more of the outcomes than can be tested on a written exam,” she said.
While the Greater St. Albert Catholic School board hasn’t discussed their thoughts on how diploma scores are weighted, Becigneul has heard from students who have an issue with it.
Kenney also said he would proclaim the Education Act (2014), which would allow schools to notify parents if their children join a gay-straight alliance.
Becigneul, on the other hand, said the changes wouldn’t make a difference in the Greater St. Albert Catholic school system.
“Whichever way it goes, we are an inclusive board,” he said. “We're certainly not going to put a child in danger.”
Edwards said she was concerned how the changes would impact students.
“Sexual minorities and gender minorities are under a lot of pressure,” she said. “We just want to make sure that we're able to support their mental health.”
St. Albert Public Schools had a strong LGBTQ-focused policy in place long before the NDP government made provincial-wide changes, she said.
Going forward, she wants to meet with St. Albert NDP MLA Marie Renaud and UCP MLA Dale Nally, along with Kenney to talk about implementing non-partisan policy that meets the needs of students.
