Highlights of the Provincial Executive Council (PEC) meeting held November 30 and December 1, 2006, at Barnett House in Edmonton.
Jerome Ell
1. Directed that the Returning Officers proceed with necessary arrangements for the Table Officers’ Election Forums in 2007.
2. Issued a commendation to Public Interest Alberta for its work in creating Survey on Education in Alberta—Fall 2006: Report of Findings.
3. Ordered that the review of policy implications arising from a briefing on private schools in Alberta be directed to Resolutions Committee for further consideration.
4. Directed that the backgrounder entitled Creating our Future: The Alberta Teachers’ Association 2006 Strategic Plan be distributed to Association subgroups.
5. Approved an over expenditure of up to $75,000 to undertake the review of Association governance structures and responsibilities endorsed at the 2007 ARA, based on the proposals received from consulting firms that would assist in this review.
6. Ordered the distribution of the final version of the Association’s vision and mission statement, entitled Agenda for Public Education.
7. Approved four resolutions for submission to the 2007 ARA regarding the establishment of a beginning administrators’ conference, teachers who are principals of more than one school building, the recruitment and retention of certificated substitute teachers in sufficient numbers and necessary attention to the safety of teachers.
8. Approved four resolutions for submission to the 2007 ARA regarding the preparation of K–12 teachers in Alberta faculties of education.
9. Instructed ATA President Frank Bruseker to send letters to superintendents outlining the manner in which particular recent Association publications that are related to student assessment and evaluation can be used to engage school communities on the reporting of student progress.
10. Approved investigation into possible Association participation in the Teachers Involve Parents in Schoolwork Pilot Project.
11. Amended terms of reference for the Diversity, Equity and Human Rights Committee regarding liaison to the Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities and the appointment of a university representative.
12. Ordered the organizing of three regional no-host meetings for interested members to discuss the possibility of forming a specialist council for First Nations, Métis and Inuit education.
13. Requested an exploration of cost-effective alternatives for conference planning that might be accessed by the Association’s specialist councils.
14. Ordered a resolution to amend Administrative Procedure D.19 to clarify that the Association may provide legal support to Associate members who have maintained the highest level of membership available to them.
15. Clarified that, with regard to the Report on the Review of Teachers’ Conventions approved by Council in June 2006, when more than one district representative attends a convention meeting at which a vote occurs, only one district representative may vote.
16. Approved the audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2006, as well as the financial statement (unaudited) for the one-month period ended September 30, 2006.
17. Authorized development of a Request for Proposal for audit services for the Association in the 2006/07 year.
18. Recommended an increase to the grant-in-aid rate for subsistence from $28 to $30, effective September 1, 2007.
19. Approved seven program area recommendations for the 2007/08 proposed budget that were consistent with the Association’s strategic plan.
20. Ratified the provision of a short-term loan of $20,000 to the Health and Physical Education Council.
The next meeting of Provincial Executive Council will be held January 18 and 19, 2007.