St. Albert’s Public School division wants a seat at the city’s new economic development advisory board, its board chair has said.
Joan Trettler sent a letter to Mayor Nolan Crouse earlier this week expressing the board’s “disappointment” that the city had replaced the St. Albert economic development advisory committee (SAEDAC) with a new economic development advisory board on which the district did not have representation.
Under SAEDAC, the school districts were allowed a seat at the table. But that changed last month when the city voted to replace SAEDAC with a smaller board.
“On this new proposed board, the school systems don’t have a place,” Trettler said. “So we feel if it’s called economic development that education is a key part of that. If the committee is going to be on economic development then the schools should have a place.”
When the task force charged with reviewing SAEDAC came back with its recommendations earlier this year, it highlighted eight groups that should be included on the new board and none of the school districts were included.
But Guy Boston, executive director for economic development, said the city is looking at increasing that number to 13, which could include the schools in some way.
“We totally recognize the schools are our largest employer and what they offer is something we use to attract investors,” Boston said. “We are looking collaboratively with them in what (the boards’ input) could be.”
Boston floated two potential ideas – either one of the boards could be given a seat at the table, but that one individual representative would be tasked with keeping all of the boards up to date, or the board might form a task force on education. In that case the board chair could meet with education representatives and report back to the larger board.
Boston added the elements of the new board are still being worked out.
Mayor Nolan Crouse said he sees the board’s purpose as different from its predecessor. Where SAEDAC gave advice to council and helped develop ideas, the new board is looked at as a group that can help bring business to St. Albert.
“There’s no question that economic development and education are linked, but this is different,” said Crouse. “This is making sure someone can open the doors to the next Amacon or Avenir or Melcor and work with them on development matters or on servicing. I don’t think the education system is in those categories.”
