The President's Message
By Larry Liffiton, Local 38 President
ARA Highlights
Minister Zwosdesky became the first minister in almost decade to address the Annual Representative Assembly held over the May long weekend. In an address intended to signal a desire to communicate, the minister highlighted a number of the issues that he has heard about during his first few months in office. While he offered no solutions to the ongoing issues, he pointed out some of the areas where he has responded positively to the concerns expressed by teachers. He recognized that there are some larger, more complex issues yet to be resolved. The delegates warmly received his speech.
Once they got down to business, the 450 delegates approved the ATA budget for the 2005-2006 year. In an attempt to respond to many members' expressions of a desire to hold the line on fees, the delegates did approve a reduced increase in fees. Next year the annual ATA fees will increase by $21 instead of the initially proposed $27. That means you should notice a minimal increase in the monthly ATA fees deduction next year.
A motion presented by the Calgary Public delegation to freeze the fees at this year's level by reducing the amount charged to replenishing the Special Emergency Fund was defeated. Another motion to increase the fees by a further $78 in order to fully replenish the S.E.F. was also defeated.
As a result of the debate, next year's provincial budget will increase by about 2.5%. The Special Emergency Fund will be completely replenished in two years.
Other motions approved spending on two new public relations initiatives. The goal of the first is to highlight the importance of public education while the second is intended to enhance the image of teachers as the professional authority on education.
The Assembly also endorsed the white paper on Accountability in Education, adopting the principles contained therein as the framework within which to conduct future discussions with stakeholders on this critical topic.
Delegates also called for a moratorium on the Grade Level Achievement initiative to allow for more in depth analysis of the impact of this intiative on education in the province.
For more in depth coverage, look for the upcoming ATA News and visit the provincial website at www.teachers.ab.ca.
