A creative idea to increase funding?

Here's a quote extracted from a well written article from the U.S.:

"This is why I’m proposing to make my school a prison. The State of Michigan spends annually somewhere between $30,000 and $40,000 per prisoner, yet we are struggling to provide schools with $7,000 per student. I guess we need to treat our students like they are prisoners, with equal funding."

Interested in reading more?

Click here.

Water update

May 25, 2011

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As you are aware, Haultain Memorial experienced a water line break on Tuesday, May 17. Contracting crews, the CBE and The City have been working to repair the leak and had done so over the weekend. While preparing to test and flush the new lines, crews discovered a small crack and leak. Consequently, the pipe had to be replaced again. As a result, we are still without running drinking water.

Temporary, non-potable water service continues to be available and hose lines have been run from a nearby hydrant to provide running water for sinks and toilets. We continue to provide bottled water, however we are also asking that students continue to bring bottles from home.

Again, we apologise for this inconvenience and hope that all will be back to normal by early next week.

Sincerely,

Trevor Barkley, Principal

School Budgets Tied To Oil Revenue

Further to Nick's post about the province building new schools is this article talking about the ups and downs of public school funding. Presently, the cycles of dynamic oil price dictate the education budget allocation from year to year. It seems crazy to me that we can't get budget certainty for education. I agree with and applaud ASCA's efforts to get the province to provide predictable funding structure:

"The “dichotomy” between an infrastructure splurge and programming cuts is part of Alberta’s boom and bust cycle and leaves school boards frantically slashing or hiring from year to year, said Jacquie Hansen, president of the Alberta School Board Association. The group has pressed the province for long-term, predictable funding agreements." - Sharon Armstrong, ATA

What do you think? Should the province be tying the price of a barrel of oil to school budgets?

Stelmach unveils plans for 35 new Alberta schools

Premier Ed Stelmach announced today a total of 35 schools across Alberta will be built or modernized at an estimated cost of $550 million to cope with a student population expected to soar by about 100,000 new pupils before the end of the decade.

“This is part of a government investment to address growing student enrolments in some of the fastest growing communities in Alberta and responds to concerns we've been hearing for some time,” Stelmach said. “Our students are the future leaders of our province and deserve positive learning environments.”

Read more here.

Interest high for proposed Arab language program

Parents interested in Arab bilingual studies proposed for Calgary public schools got their first look at it during an upbeat open house on Thursday.

More than 200 parents and children packed in to the cafeteria at Central Memorial high school for the event, launched by the Calgary Board of Education in response to an application brought forward by several Calgary parents, including Nayef Hattab.

Hattab, whose three daughters grew up in a CBE without an Arab bilingual program, said such studies would empower his grandson with an advantage over competitors in the future workforce, particularly overseas.

“As a parent, it’s really important for kids to have this opportunity. It will open up a lot of doors in the future,” said Hattab.

Read the full story here.

Union fears more cuts to Calgary teachers in wake of bus budget decision

By Matt McClure, Calgary Herald

The union that represents teachers at Calgary's public schools worries the board's rejection of a proposed 60 per cent hike in busing fees may result in even fewer teachers and bigger classes come September.

Jenny Regal, local president of the Alberta Teacher's Association, estimates the fee increase would have yielded an extra $2.6 million, savings that will now need to be found elsewhere as the Calgary Board of Education struggles to balance its budget.

"I fear increased job losses," Regal said. "Maybe there's another rock or two that administration can look under."

Read the full story here.

Higher bus fees rejected by school board

(From the CBC website)

Public school board trustees have rejected a large increase in school bus fees.

Calgary Board of Education administrators had recommended a 60 per cent fee hike to cover higher costs, but on Tuesday night the public school trustees voted down the proposal.

The recommendation would have cost parents of an elementary or junior high student $33.50 per month, up from $20 to ride the same bus this year. Senior high students wouldn't have seen any change to their monthly bus fees.

Click here to read the full story.