Education Minister Talks Tough: CBE "Frightening Parents"

The uproar over budget cuts to education in Alberta is getting louder. On Tuesday, the Calgary Herald printed this story written by Dave Hancock, our Education Minister. He was writing in response to this Herald editorial which says the province has provided a 'lesson in pettiness'.

In his response, Mr. Hancock accuses the CBE of 'buying a bigger house' when times got tough, referring to their new lease and building agreement. He goes on to suggest that the CBE has not been transparent and that CBE's reported budget shortfall of 61 million dollars is their own doing and seems fabricated. He also claims that CBE is posturing by 'frightening parents with hypothetical numbers'. The CBE will have a rebuttal in the Herald on Sunday.

Mr. Hancock may be responding so frankly and with this amount of vitriol because the CBE has placed the responsibility for the budget cuts squarely on Alberta Education shoulders.

The principle players in the debate met last night (hosted by CAPSC) at a public forum to discuss the budget problems and take questions from parents. Chief Superintendent of the CBE, Naomi Johnson, CBE Trustee/Chair Pat Cochrane, and Minister Dave Hancock met in an attempt to set the record straight. This story and this one both outline the frustration that parents are feeling concerning the issues and the lack of closure provided by the meeting. Parents of special needs students are especially concerned as it has been mentioned that support in this area will be first cut.

If you want more information, have questions or concerns, or just want to listen someone who is responsible - plan on coming to a Trustee Meet and Greet with Carol Bazinet and Sheila Taylor on April 28th, 6:30pm at the Lake Bonavista Community Association: 1401 Acadia Drive SE.

Who do you think is responsible for our present budget crisis? Should the province be providing more funding? Should the CBE have been more prudent in the past and budget more carefully now? Or is it just an economic reality, a sign of the times, that we simply can't afford the education environment we want? Click on the 'comment' link...