November 29, 2024

A Year End Message: The Vital roll of Public School Education and School Boards

Seeing as this is the final blog for the 2024 year, I am wanting to reflect on the advocacy work that has been done, and also highlight the important role public school education plays across the province. Public schools do far more than teach the ABCs; they prepare every student from the future tradesperson to the aspiring engineer, to the healthcare worker to contribute meaningfully to our province’s prosperity.

PSBAA champions the belief that public education is fundamental to a robust and thriving Alberta. Our public schools uphold standards of academic excellence recognized worldwide and offer programs addressing students’ cultural, wellness, and skill-building needs. These programs empower young Albertans to thrive in whatever path they choose, creating a workforce as diverse and capable as the challenges we face.

At the heart of this system lies Alberta’s Education Act. This legislation is more than an operational manual; highlights the rights and responsibilities of students, parents, educators, and school boards. It mandates that schools foster safe, inclusive environments and outlines the roles of school governance, ensuring that equity, respect, and high educational standards remain a priority.

Public schools uniquely reflect the act’s spirit by being open to every child, regardless of socioeconomic background, ability, or origin. Only public schools provide public education. Unlike charter or private institutions, public schools must accommodate every student’s needs, often facing challenges head-on that other systems do not. This “open-door” policy, while demanding, speaks volumes about the role of public school education in our communities.

I believe it’s essential to recognize the key roles of both the provincial government and local school boards in ensuring the public education system’s success. The provincial government creates and enforces education policies, develops curricula, and provides funding. Meanwhile, school boards focus on the local application of these policies, managing school operations, hiring teachers and staff, and overseeing budget allocation. This shared responsibility ensures that while overarching standards are maintained, there is room for local adaptation to meet community-specific needs. We as school boards, bridge the gap between provincial directives and daily educational realities.

However, it is important to remember that while all schools receive provincial funding, public schools bear the weight of broader societal demands including immigration, rising inflation, and growing enrollments, without corresponding financial adjustments. A funding structure that embraces equity and transparency is essential for sustaining the high quality of education our students deserve. We must level the playing field in order for all schools to succeed day to day.

Together, with unwavering support from both the provincial government and local school boards, we can ensure Alberta’s public school education system remains robust. Through sustained investment and collaboration, we can empower public schools to continue nurturing an educated workforce that underpins Alberta’s future.

As we begin to settle into the holiday season let us continue advocating for public school education, not just as an institution, but as the bedrock of our province’s strength and growth. I want to personally thank all our members for the continued work, empathy, and positivity you have shown throughout this year. Your passion drives this organization forward and we could not be doing the work we do without all of you. I wish you a peaceful and relaxing holiday, and I look forward to continue the work when we reconvene in the new year.

Dennis MacNeil