Government of News Release

For Immediate Release 9:30 a.m., June 25, 1997 Mar announces team to review Board of Education

An eight-member team will study the operations of the Calgary Board of Education and the funding of its schools. The review team will include a Calgary Board of Education trustee, two members of the Calgary community, three members with experience in the education field, a Calgary M.L.A. and an ex-officio member from the Auditor General's office The six-month review will look at issues like fundraising, user fees, the allocation of instructional funding, and special needs programs in the Calgary Public school system. The team will examine the board's administrative and instructional spending to see how it allocates resources and to ensure it is effectively supporting student learning. The review team also will look at how the board's three-year plan for education fits with the province's plan and direction for education. "This review will address the education concerns of Calgary parents, educators and community members," said Education Minister at a news conference today. "Our main concern right now is ensuring that the Public school system is meeting the needs of Calgary students." The review team will meet with Calgary Board of Education trustees and employees to gather information for the study. The team will establish the format and dates for consultation with students, parents and community members in the fall. This review follows discussions held in April between Calgary M.L.A.s and the Calgary Board of Education. At that time, M.L.A.-trustee working groups were considered as a way of looking at the Calgary Board of Education's operations. "We felt that educators, rather than politicians, should be leading this review," said Mar. The members of the review team are: Steve Cymbol, Chair (former Assistant Deputy Minister of Regional Services, Alberta Education) Howie Shikaze (VP Finance and CFO of Seventh Energy Ltd.) (community volunteer and former executive member of a school council) Thomas Olson (Associate Superintendent of Parkland School Division #70) A Calgary Board of Education trustee to be selected by the board A teacher member, to be named by the Minister of Education Greg Melchin (M.L.A. Calgary North West and a Chartered Accountant)

A representative of the Auditor General's office will be an ex-officio member of the review team. The team may seek other outside experts if necessary. Three team membersHowie Shikaze, Cindy Ady and Greg Melchinare parents with children in Calgary's public school system. The review team will provide the Minister of Education with a report on or before January 15, 1998. - 30 - For more information, contact: Kelley Charlebois - Executive Assistant to the Minister, Alberta Education - (403) 427-2025 Steve Cymbol - Chair, Calgary Board of Education Review Team - (403) 427-2285 To be connected toll free, dial 310-0000. CALGARY BOARD OF EDUCATION REVIEW

Purpose of the Review The Calgary Board of Education Review Team will review the Board's administrative and instructional spending to see how it allocates resources and to ensure it is effectively supporting student learning. The Education Review Team Chair - Steve Cymbol Members: a trustee of the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), two members of the Calgary community with children in the public system, a school business official, a Calgary M.L.A., a teacher, an ex-officio representative from the Auditor General's office. This will give the team members access to that office's expertise and assistance. The Review Process: The team will gather information through: records, minutes and financial statements, public meetings and interviews with board trustees, board employees, students, parents, community members, provincial government departments and agencies providing educational services. Scope of the Review In reviewing the Board's operations, the team will examine: the implementation of school-based decision-making, how well board decisions meet the requirements of Alberta Education's funding framework, how well the jurisdiction's practices adhere to its business plan, and how well the board plan is aligned to the province's three-year plan for education. CBE's relationships with other public and separate boards, charter schools and private schools in providing educational services to resident students. Financially, the review team will examine: how instruction funds are allocated to schools for classroom instruction, school-based support services and instructional materials including textbooks. how CBE meets the requirements of Career and Technology Studies, fine arts and science, how CBE provides for long-term planning and future financial needs, fees charged to students and parents for instruction-related costs and for busing, and school and community fundraising to support instruction. As far as possible, the team will make comparisons with other large school systems in the province. The findings of a separate review of special education services will be incorporated into the team's report. The review team will provide its report to the Minister of Education by January 15, 1998. Biographies - Calgary Board of Education Review Team

Steve Cymbol has almost four decades of experience in education. He served as a teacher, school administrator, principal and superintendent before joining Alberta Education, where he eventually became Assistant Deputy Minister. He retired from that position this February. His exceptional dedication to education earned him the President's Award from the Alberta School Boards' Association. He holds B.Ed. and M.Ed. degrees, and has two grown sons. Greg Melchin, M.L.A. Calgary North West, is the M.L.A. representative to Treasury Board and is a member of the Standing Policy Committee on Community Services, the Public Accounts Committee, and the Montana/Alberta Boundary Advisory Committee. In addition to extensive experience in financial and business administration, the Chartered Accountant has a long history of involvement with Calgary's youth, serving more than 15 years with the Boy Scouts of Canada and organizing church youth programs. He has five children; three are presently in Calgary's public school system. Howie Shikaze is a Director, Vice-President Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Seventh Energy Ltd. He is a partner in the firm of Kahn Halpern Shikaze, Chartered Accountants. He holds executive positions and directorships in various other industrial and energy companies. Extensive community activities include youth sports programs and significant Kiwanis involvement. He is the father of two children in Calgary's public school system. Cindy Ady is a member of the executive of the Mid-sun Community Association. As the Community Education Representative, she deals with education issues in her community. Her extensive parent council and school council experience goes back to 1992 and includes executive positions as co-chair and chair. She served on a committee that successfully brought a junior high school to the Mid-sun community, and assisted in principal selection. She has four children in Calgary's public school system. Thomas Olson is Associate Superintendent of Business and Finance for Parkland School Division #70, and has served in this capacity and in related positions for various school boards since 1982. He is very active in the Association of School Business Officials of Alberta and has produced materials related to the financial aspects of school-based decision-making. He has an extensive background in education finance and system administration. The Minister of Education will name a teacher member to serve on the review team. As well, the Calgary Board of Education will be asked to appoint a trustee, and a representative of the Auditor General's office will serve as an ex-officio member.

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