EGGEN STEPS IN
Catholic board gets adviser
Alberta Education Minister David Eggen has appointed an outside adviser to help the Edmonton Catholic school board get “back on the rails” as it struggles to develop an equality policy for transgender and sexual minority students.
Donald Cummings, of the consulting firm National Growth Partners, will work with the school board and produce recommendations to improve its overall effectiveness, Eggen announced Wednesday.
The move comes after a series of Edmonton Catholic school board meetings that were focused on a sexual-orientation and genderidentity policy devolved into acrimonious debate.
“It’s very important at this time that we build and strengthen the governance of the school board to ensure … the coherence of the entire board is intact and gets back on the rails,” Eggen told reporters at the legislature.
Tensions mounted during an hours-long board meeting Tuesday night and many people in the public gallery appeared frustrated and hurt during the discussion.
However, the board did vote 6-1 to approve the first reading of a stand-alone policy on sexual orientation and gender identity. A consultation period will follow before the policy comes up for second reading at the next board meeting.
Trustee Larry Kowalczyk was the lone No vote on the policy. At one point during the debate, while quoting a Catholic writer, he alleged “gay activists” are waging a campaign against the Catholic Church.
While Eggen said he was pleased the board took some “small steps” toward implementing the policy, he said he was concerned about “disturbing comments” made during the meeting.
“I don’t have the capacity to remove individuals, but I think some individuals need to really reflect on why they’ve been elected in the first place and what is their role,” Eggen said.
Eggen said he was spurred to call in an outside expert to help the board after its first meeting in September devoted to the policy led to bitter debate and shouting matches between trustees.
Board chairwoman Marilyn Bergstra said trustees welcomed the outside expertise when the minister offered it during a meeting three weeks ago.
“I think (Cummings) will be a huge asset in terms of helping us define governance, because everyone sees governance a little different,” Bergstra said, noting the board has already met with him briefly.
The province says Cummings and his team will help the board create a working environment that will allow them to implement a policy that ensures transgender students are free from discrimination in the school district.
But the minister said he hasn’t ruled out further action, including dissolution, if the board can’t deliver a policy soon. “All options are on the table for me,” he said.
Jan Buterman, with the Trans Equality Society of Alberta, applauded Cummings’ hiring.
“If they can’t govern themselves well, how can a trans person expect them to govern on these issues,” Buterman said of the Catholic board. “It gives hope that there will eventually be a successful process.”
Asked if she would consider dissolving the province’s religious school boards if they fail to comply, Premier Rachel Notley said the NDP government will continue for now to work with them.
“I think at this point what we are really pleased to do is work with our democratically elected school boards to ensure that they have the time and the support necessary to develop the policies that are in line with the legislation that has been passed already in this province,” she said.
The school board and Alberta Education will split the $60,000 cost to hire National Growth Partners. A progress report is expected in three months and then again in six months.
This is only the second time an Alberta education minister has appointed an outside consultant to work with a school board.