CBE Parent Meeting About Fees

Calgary Board of Education held the final of 8 division meetings in the last two weeks tonight, to solicit parent input on fee structures for the 2012-2013 school year.  It was a well represented and lively meeting, consisting of  board staff, trustees, students and well over 50 parents.  The bottom line of this meeting was to find out if  you think fees should be user based, meaning fees will only be paid for the services you use.  If you choose to send your child to an alternate program (eg. Willow Park, French Immersion, Spanish Immersion, etc.)  then you pay for the bus service or if you choose to use the lunch program then you will pay for that service.  Some great concerns and ideas were generated out of this meeting, here are a few ideas and comments:
 - many areas have no schools but will still be charged for bussing should they choose an alternative program.
-  promises made by the CBE in the past have not been honoured, therefore how can we trust what they say this time.
-  the user pay system is the begining of a two tier education system.
-  what about the families that would like to choose an alternative program, but now could not afford it.
-  many wondered how the fees are being calculated.
-  french is an official language therefore should not be considered an alternative program.
-  there will no longer be a family fee cap, meaning it doesnt matter how many children in a family, each child will have to pay the same
-  public education is exactly that, public education and all programs and services provided by the CBE should remain equal.
-  could there be a deal worked out with Calgary Transit to help reduce costs.
-  are there any ideas about how to generate money to help subsidize the "gap".

These are just a few highlights, there was a lot more passionate discussion.  The Calgary Board of Education also stressed the fact that this was a very time sensitive issue, and a decision will have to be made very quickly in order to prepare fees for the upcoming school year.  There will be a final opportunity to shsare your views at a system wide meeting meaning Thursday May 31st, 7:00-9:30 in the Western Canada High School (641 - 17th Ave SW).  CBE has asked for your opinion and this would be an excellent platform for you to give it!  See you there.

Shona