A Short History of the Public School Boards' Association of Alberta
In 1986 the Government of Alberta indicated that it would "re-write" the School Act. At that time public school boards decided that they wanted to develop an understanding of what made public school education unique, valuable, and attractive in our province. We wanted to promote public school education and ensure that public schooling would be fairly dealt with in writing a new School Act.
The government enacted a new School Act in 1988. Supporters felt that public school education had been misunderstood and disadvantaged in several ways by some of the provisions of the legislation. This outcome reinforced the need to create a positive, imaginative, and articulate voice for public school education.
In the spring of 1989, the Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, and Medicine Hat public school boards and St. Albert Protestant Separate School District took the initiative to promote the idea of a new association, dedicated to advocating on behalf of public schools and public school students.
Initially, 50 boards across the province were involved in the exploratory meeting, held in the (Edmonton Public Schools) Centre for Education on September 14, 1989. Shortly thereafter, the Public School Boards' Association of Alberta was incorporated under the Societies Act.
At the founding convention November 25 - 26, 1989 the first Executive Committee was elected, with a mandate to hire an Executive Director.
Membership is voluntary. Boards belong, not individuals. Every member has one vote. This has necessitated that members work and think inclusively. It also motivates us to go to the heart of issues. We have relied on one primary contact with each member board that being the Council Representative.
The Association works diligently to establish credibility and maintain positive relationships. We have a work plan focused on advocacy, leadership on issues important to public school education, and the development of trustees and local administrators as leaders of public school education.
Our Mission Statement has us focused on "inclusiveness" and "modeling civil democracy" as unique, valuable, and attractive characteristics of the public school system. Public Schools must by definition welcome any student who presents themselves at our schools. There are no exclusions. The Association also advocates for public school education involving the courts if need be. We have a Constitution and Legal Issues fund in place. Currently, the Association has standing in the Theodore case now before the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal.
In the past, the Association made submissions to the Special Select Committee of the Alberta Legislature. This submission recommended changes to the Constitution so that public school education could be completely inclusive. It also marked the first reference to the phrase "mirror equality" - the idea that public school boards must have whatever constitutional rights that are provided to separate school and francophone supporters.
Let us be clear, at all times the Association has stated that it abides by the constitutional right of the minority faith and francophone population.
The Association is equally respectful of parental as well as student choice. Student choice related to programs, courses, and sports is at the very heart of our objectives We have always been strong advocates of economic efficiencies that result in less of a financial burden on families and the provincial government.
As a basic tenet, the Association is a strong proponent of local decision-making and autonomy. For over three decades the Association has focused on leadership development of trustees and the political connection between trustees and their community and the Government of Alberta.
The association are forthright advocates for public school education, to the Minister and all MLAs, to the department, to the media, to the public, and to our frontline partner organizations.
From the beginning, the association has never shied away from representing public school education for non-members as well as for members. The clarity and collaborative outcomes we achieve apply to all public boards.
We are proud of what we do, confident about why we do our work and honoured to represent our members.