To the Editor:
Does Pembina Hills Public Schools board of trustees care about the community that elected them and which they serve?
I don’t think so! Despite declining student enrolment across the region, the top two positions of the board — the chair and vice chair — were recently awarded additional days for pay each month.
Our current top position is now receiving higher pay than the previous three people who held that position in the past. Again, despite declining student enrolment.
Back in 2015, the board also awarded themselves a two per cent pay raise when the support staff received zero per cent.
I don’t think so! Based on one person’s complaint in one school, they have removed the non-denominational, highly-respected Lord’s Prayer from three schools. No community consultation was hosted by the board prior to this decision.
There was a majority vote by the community to preserve the recitation of the Prayer but this went unnoticed. The board justified their action by saying they were saving money in legal costs to defend the vote.
I don’t think so! Because of declining student enrolment, bus runs are combined and school days are made longer for the youngest of children all to save money. Yet they continue to expand management positions such as executive assistants, assistant coordinators, coordinators, directors and the assistant superintendents, all since February.
Previous boards walked the talk and maximized resources going to the classrooms, not the board or management positions. What will happen as student enrolment continues to decline? Will these new management jobs be cut or will there be further cuts to classrooms and longer bus rides? All at a cost to student education.
I don’t think so! The board has recently terminated, without cause, the third Superintendent. The community has been kept in the dark for the longest time and still is about the reasons for her termination.
How much money has been and will be spent as a result of this decision? The legal costs, costs for a recruitment consultant to search for a new Superintendent and hiring a private investigator, after the fact, to justify their decision.
The big question being “WHY?” Is it really because of “alleged bullying and harassment” or is it because of one person’s personal ambitions? All this money that should be going to support the students — our children!
Are we, the community, ready to step up and voice our loss of confidence in this board? Apparently, four of the board members are not running for re-election. Let someone else clean up.
I am a Pembina Hills employee and a concerned citizen of this community. I am not pleased with recent happenings.
Ken Mead
Westlock, AB
