Local school divisions agree — the proposed Education Act has the potential to be a very good thing once it finally rolls out.
The act, Bill 18, was introduced in the legislature this week by Education Minister Dave Hancock.
What is being proposed is more freedom for school boards to run their districts as they see fit than with the current in the School Act. It includes a more flexible outline of what a school is — a dedicated learning environment as opposed to a brick and mortar building — and takes into account issues like cyberbullying.
“It’s very important that we’re able to respond more to local issues and that we’re able to sort of set up what will work for us,” said Joan Trettler, board chair of St. Albert Protestant Schools.
“It varies from community to community, depending on the resources. That idea of giving a school and school board more control, I think, is good.”
“If you take a look at Morinville and St. Albert and those kinds of areas, we would have very different needs than say a Calgary or an Edmonton might have,” said Lauri-Ann Turnbull, board chair of the Catholic division. “Who knows better than the people who live right there?”
Under the new act, school boards would also be able to select superintendents without getting approval from the minister and would be free to close schools at their discretion, and establish a charter school as a person or an organization would.
This act also demands community engagement in such decisions.
Hancock said if a board is doing wildly unpopular things, the trustees will not be re-elected.
“There will still be elections and people will vote people in to represent their communities, we’re always looking towards that and ensuring that we do the best job possible,” said Turnbull. “At the end of the day, we are there to represent our communities and to get the best educations possible for the children.”
Trettler agreed, noting parents are pretty aware of what goes on in their kids’ schools, as well as pretty vocal when they disapprove.
It will take some time, however, to get acquainted with this new act, should it come to pass.
“We’re all very familiar with the School Act, so we know what we can and can’t do. The future will be how [this new act] actually flows, from act into action,” said Trettler. “We’ve had a brief look at some of the main points, but we haven’t really had a chance to look at it yet.”
The Education Act passed first reading Wednesday, and was adjourned at second reading Thursday. Hancock indicated it will likely not get its go ahead during this legislative session.
Further review and tweaking is required, including a workshop with Alberta’s school boards.
