School funding debate confuses parents

Parents already worried about staffing cuts in schools are confused by the recent dispute between the school board chair and the education minister, says a spokeswoman for public school councils.

"There's just not been enough transparency either way from the board or from Minister [Dave] Hancock," said Eryn Kelly, co-president of the Calgary Association of Parent and School Councils.

Her association is hosting a panel discussion Wednesday at A.E. Cross School on school funding. Hancockwill beon hand, along withCalgary Board of Education board chair Pat Cochrane and chief superintendentNaomi Johnson.

In March, thepublic school board announced the elimination of 172 positions as the first step toward dealing with a $61.7 million budget shortfall. Most of thecuts are to support staff, such as psychologists, speech therapists and teacher trainers.

In a letter published in the Calgary Herald Tuesday, Hancock accused the board of frightening parents with predictions of layoffs and using special needs students as pawns. He also questioned the size of the board's budget shortfall.

"Transparency and accountability to its electors are not the CBE's strong suit," he wrote.

Parents in the dark

Parents don't know who to believe, said Kelly.

"If [provincial politicians] want to make accusations about administration being too top heavy and costs being too high, you need to back that up so that parents can understand what is it we're dealing with and how can we now, as parents and school councils, go to the board and say this is where we feel you could cut."

Former school board candidate Laura Shutiak, who has been outspoken in the past about how trustees spend money, says the board needs to be forthcoming.

" We're making conjecture. We're being asked to take their word that they are hard done by. We don't know that," she said.

Speaking to CBC News on Tuesday, Pat Cochrane said she doesn't want to get into specifics.

"We can all talk about this number and that number and I think our key message is that public education is an investment in our kids," she said.