CBE’s top boss tenders resignation
Resignation comes with more than 18 months left on five-year contract
The Calgary Board of Education’s chief superintendent has tendered his resignation to trustees with more than a year and six months remaining on his five-year contract.
David Stevenson’s resignation comes just two weeks after school board elections that saw a number of trustees critical of administration spending propelled to office.
Stevenson, who has worked for the CBE for more than 42 years, was paid $295,000 annually in base salary when he took over the role of chief superintendent in June 2014, according to figures published on the CBE’s website.
Stevenson will receive a retiring allowance of one year’s salary when he leaves the job next spring, according to his contract — the same deal that was offered to his predecessor, Naomi Johnson, who also stepped down early.
Correspondence obtained by Postmedia and sent to school board officials on Thursday offered no details as to why the veteran administrator was stepping down.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for allowing me to serve the CBE for over 42 years,” the three-sentence letter concluded.
Postmedia has learned a special meeting of the board of trustees will be held at CBE headquarters Monday morning to discuss Stevenson’s resignation.
Board chair Trina Hurdman, a second-term trustee, could not be reached for comment Sunday.
The CBE’s new board of trustees was sworn in last week, with three of them elected from the high-profile Students Count slate, a group that campaigned on improving math results while shifting more administrative dollars into classrooms.
A total of five rookie trustees have been elected to the board, with only two incumbents returning.
Mike Bradshaw, the new trustee for Wards 12 and 14, who ran for Students Count, told Postmedia earlier this month that parents are concerned about a lack of resources in classrooms, especially for special-needs students.
“The money just isn’t making it from head office to the schools,” Bradshaw said.
Bradshaw was elected with fellow Students Count candidates Althea Adams and Lisa Davis. They are joined by newly elected trustees Marilyn Dennis and Richard Hehr. Hurdman and Julia Hrdlicka are returning.
The sea change in leadership also comes as the board awaits the results of a provincial operational review of CBE finances. The province ordered the review following an outcry over changes to bus routes and transportation fees that created longer commutes and higher costs for some families.
Education Minister David Eggen said last week the probe will be completed this fall.