CBE to get new look as only three trustees seek re-election
Several deep and well-populated races for school trustee got off to a fast start at nomination day Monday, including a slate of five candidates running as the Students Count team and dozens of others, bringing the overall list of contenders to 42 for both boards combined.
And with only three of seven public school trustees running for re-election, and up to 34 candidates, the face of the new Calgary Board of Education promises to be starkly different.
“With a core of trustees not running again, we’ll definitely see some major changes on our board,” said Trina Hurdman, who is running for re-election but has changed areas from Wards 6 and 7, to Wards 1 and 2 where CBE board chair Joy Bowen-Eyre announced her retirement.
“It’s always great to get new voices, new opinions on the board. It’s an important part of democracy.”
Lisa Davis, part of the Students Count team of five including Althea Adams, Sabrina Bartlett, Mike Bradshaw and Sadiq Valliani, spent much of the summer door-knocking in Wards 6 and 7, where she said parents are desperate for change on the board.
“They’re saying they’re tired of having to vote for the same person all the time and then nothing ever gets done,” Davis said. “Parents are really upset, they’re upset about math scores, report cards and administration’s spending.”
The CBE has been the subject of an ongoing operational review after saying the province’s new legislation to reduce school fees was the reason they had to re-arrange many bus schedules to parents’ dismay.
Last week, as part of that ongoing review, Education Minister David Eggen raised several concerns around the CBE’s finances, including an annual $13-million lease payment for their downtown headquarters — half of which comes from operational expenses that could be going to classrooms.
Pamela King, a trustee for 10 years who is running for re-election in Wards 5 and 10, said the lease on the CBE administration building has been an issue in two previous elections, but “there’s nothing we can do about it. It’s time to move on.”
King’s race will be one of the most contentious with 11 candidates running against her.
Sadiq Valliani, who is running for the Students Count team in Wards 11 and 13, said he wants to make CBE administration more accountable for its spending.
“When we’ve got money that should be going to classrooms, going towards renting the administration building, I’m very concerned. We need to take a closer look at CBE’s budget.”
Valliani’s opponent in Wards 11 and 13, incumbent Julie Hrdlicka, said she hopes voters understand the importance of independent voices on the board, rather than a team of trustees who may vote as a slate.
“Individual thinking is critical,” Hrdlicka said. “We are facing so many complex issues. And my commitment is to my community, and listening to their concerns.”
Meanwhile, the Calgary Catholic School District will see a much quieter race, with three candidates receiving acclamations including Myra D’Souza in Wards 1 and 2 plus Cochrane, Linda Wellman in Wards 3 and 5 plus Airdrie and Cathie Williams in Wards 11 and 12.
Wellman said while the CBE has faced its battles around the province’s new legislation to reduce school fees, they too are facing a deficit as a result and will have further challenges going forward as they get a deeper understanding of its impacts on their budget.