Citing costs and how the Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta pursues its goal of unifying Alberta’s school system, Red Deer Public School District voted to withdraw.
The board voted to withdraw their membership from the association at their April 12 meeting.
“A lot of the discussion surrounded around economics,” said Bev Manning, Red Deer Public School District board chair. “Fees to the association are upwards of $30,000 per year.”
Also on the minds of trustees was a question of how the PSBAA was speaking on Red Deer Public’s behalf, promoting one publicly funded education system.
“If you feel you are a part of an organization and they’re not speaking out as much as you wish them to, then you have to reevaluate that,” said Manning.
The PSBAA’s first priority, as defined in its February 2017 President’s Report, is the formation of a new single public inclusive education system in Alberta.
Both the Edmonton and Calgary public school boards have already withdrawn from the association.
Withdrawing from the PSBAA will save the district $30,000 and will happen at the end of the year.