SOFA

SOFA has transcribed the ATA PC Leadership Candidates Forum in Banff. If you are unable to watch the two hour video of the proceedings or only wish to read the answers to certain questions, this should help to inform you about the issues that matter to you.

The forum was comprised of the following with the page numbers corresponding to our transcription:

Page 2: Opening Statements

Page 4: Alberta is world-renowned as a top-performing jurisdiction with regards to public education. What do you think of the system today, and what are your priorities for change that would help ensure continued excellence?

Page 7: This government promotes charter schools as a place where innovation and enhanced education take place. Alberta students are among the top-performing in the world – innovative and enhanced education is taking place on a daily basis in classrooms across Alberta. What is your view of the role of charter schools and to a further extent private schools in Alberta’s education system?

Page 9: A number of grants for school boards were reduced or eliminated in the 2011 budget. As a result, hundreds of teachers across the province were laid off in June. Will a government under your leadership reverse grant cuts to school boards and what principles will be used in the future to ensure stable, predictable and sustained funding for schools?

Page 12: What actions and policies do you believe are needed to help preserve the quality of rural education? What changes would be necessary to create a more equitable funding model for rural school divisions?

Page 14: The ATA has been the professional voice of teachers for over 94 years. The ATA is a unified organization with both union and professional functions representing all teachers in Alberta’s public, separate and francophone schools. Do you support the continuation of the association in its current form? And, what would your government do to further support the teaching profession in Alberta?

Page 17: The education environment, mounting student expectations, and shifts in provincial policy are increasing the demands made on our schools. One of the approaches explored in tripartite discussions this year was the restructuring of teacher time and workload to allow more professional development and collaboration. Would you support this direction?

Page 19: Teachers are often the first responders to mental health issues in children and youth. In what ways do you see the Ministries of Health and Education working together to address the mental health concerns of students?

Page 20: Sometimes it makes sense in a personal budget to run a deficit, in particular where the investment is worthwhile, like a post-secondary education or a house. What investments would you run a deficit budget to sustain, and which budget lines would you cut in order to sustain a balanced budget?

Page 21: What is your position on raising taxes and/or royalties to help address Alberta’s deficit or funding shortfalls?

Page 22: It seems as if the “progressive” part of the “Progressive Conservative” name has been lost since the days of Peter Loughheed built schools, roads and invested in the province’s long term future. In what ways does your platform define you as a progressive and as a conservative?

Page 23: Closing Statements