Review highlights concerns over CBE spending

Some of the preliminary findings of the Alberta Education review of the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) have been released.

Education Minister David Eggen said one focus is still transportation and congregated bus stops, but he hoped to see what he called ‘fine tuning’ after Thanksgiving.

“In regards to larger issues, for sure, I mean I’m looking at best practices and something to compare with my other three big metro boards and to see where they have gained efficiencies and you know, perhaps where CBE can make adjustments as well,” he said, referring to the CBE’s expensive downtown headquarters lease.

It’s about $13-million per year, far more than the other three Alberta metro school boards spend, and money Eggen said could be used in the classroom.

“Things like that we just don’t need,” he explained. “I’m looking for every dollar right now in cabinet upstairs to put in the classroom and everybody has to take a third, fourth look at their budgets because public money is in short supply.”

He also said the province has adequately funded the CBE the last three audited years.

“In fact, they posted surpluses in each of those three years. And so while you might see one pocket that might demonstrate deficit, like special needs busing for example, if you look at the whole budget overall, again I’m just looking at the track record of money in, money out,” said Eggen.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today