EPSB Has a Hard Time Listening
A Twitter documentary regarding the closure of Edmonton’s well functioning Inner City Schools.
Documenting the March 23, 2010 meeting of the Edmonton Public School Board
The message to EPSB from Edmonton communities might be summed up: “we cannot use conventional strategies in unconventional times”. We heard that in the communities’ view EPSB does not consider the welfare of children first when closing schools. We heard from groups who would offer to share costs but EPSB has not engaged with them. Parents want to know why there seems to be so many opportunties for EPSB to save money by better planning and being more efficient, but yet closing schools seems to be the first priority. We heard about an honours student that used to love to go to school, but after his school was closed using a similar process to this one is now failing and hates school. We heard about schools that are rated to have lots of extra space, but actually their enrolment is capped! We heard that the EPSB priority was giving at risk kids new options but not what they need.
EPSB will continue to close as many schools as it can get away with. Its vision is at odds with what many parents want for their children and what many education researchers recommend for children. EPSB marches to its own drum. It claims to be financially sound and it has a surplus, but yet is acting panicked. EPSB stubbornly refuses to use a rational, responsible approach to planning.
According to the school act school boards have responsibilities to have policies and maintain and repair their schools. Many key EPSB policies are out of date—Including its policy for managing surplus space which elapsed over 20 years ago. EPSB own staff have talked about the effectiveness of the maintenance of their schools.
We heard Trustee Ripley make a motion that scuttled any attempt to use meaningful capacity numbers for students and any defensibility of the EPSB closure process.
But, let the tweets speak for themselves…
94. scodonnell RT @suehuff #epsb Board votes tonight on whether to continue with #abed capacity measure in school closure/sector reviews.
93. JM W00t! Love it! RT @JF @PT Congrats Johnny Bright School on your website & branding! johnnybright.epsb.ca #epsb #yeg
92. SF RT @yegtrustee: #abed #epsb EPSB Tonight 6pm: Impassioned Parents~Concerned Citizens~Community Groups MEDIA ADVISORY 23MAR10 (cont) http://tl.gd/jmvq9
91. SF Met a #epsb trustee on a walk today~I emphasized the importance of “public”‚ parents&communities, in governance of public education. #abed
90. SF #epsb meeting will consider increasing #yeg taxes (board req#280 special school tax level plebiscite) http://bit.ly/ct6hAh #abed
89. SF My quick estimate of the total cost of a #epsb board meeting is ~$50,000 #abed #yeg
88. SF #epsb meeting. Room is filling up. I haven’t seen any police officer this time! #abed #yeg
87. NM Swann gets it: school closure policies "on a collision course" with municipal development plans http://bit.ly/bRkYyW #ablib #abed #epsb
86. SF The power of school boards in Alberta http://bit.ly/bYoZcl #epsb #abed #ableg
85. SF #epsb 7 public speakers tonight #abed #yeg
84. SF former Trustee Wendy Keiver talking
83. SF 2nd speaker against closing Capilano School #epsb did not adequately consider safety of children crossing streets #yeg #abed
82. SF 2nd speaker #epsb practices have hurt enrolment. Speaks
81. scodonnell At Edmonton Public school board: speakers so far from Eastglen H.S. parent council and two parents against Capilano closure. #epsb #abed
80. SF 3rd speaker #epsb Education at Capilano School 2nd to none. Have a wonderful playground. New school will not have a playground #abed #yeg
79. SF 3rd speaker: This board should be careful regarding #epsb assumptions. Gives board and L. Parker research. #yeg #abed
78. SF RT @scodonnell: At Edmonton Public school board: speakers so far from Eastglen H.S. parent council and two parents against Capilano closure. #epsb #abed
77. SF 4th speaker: Not an open and transparent process. Info difficult to find. Fleming untypically trying to respond. #epsb #yeg #abed
76. SF 5th spker: Honour student now failing. Used 2 love going 2 school now hate it. #epsb #abed #yeg
75. SF #epsb $2.7MM paid in leased space. Why not use existing space? #epsb start thinking out of the box #abed #yeg applause
74. SF There were 2 extra speakers that will speak later due to time constraints #epsb #yeg #abed
73. scodonnell Really passionate presentation from mother at former Woodcroft School
72. SF 6th spkr. Physician. Initiated solar learning project. Underway. Called in2 school told because 6 new schools project canceled. #epsb #abed
71. SF RT @scodonnell: Really passionate presentation from mother at former Woodcroft School
70. SF 7th spkr. Use proper measure of space and not simplistic metrics. #epsb #yeg #abed formula 38 students per class at Westglen!
69. SF 7th spkr. Westglen school said to be too empty by #epsb However enrolment actually capped! #abed #yeg
68. scodonnell If you are interested in Edmonton Public Schools, be sure to follow @SF. Great tweets of tonight's #epsb meeting, as always. #abed
67. SF opinion: #epsb spoiled (literally) for choice #abed #yeg
66. scodonnell Many in audience here to support proposed Sakinah Circle Alternative program, a program with holistic Islamic worldview. #abed #yeg #epsb
65. SF RT @scodonnell: Many in audience here to support proposed Sakinah Circle Alternative program, a program with holistic Islamic worldview. #abed #yeg #epsb
64. CS RT @scodonnell If you are interested in #yeg Public Schools, be sure to follow @SF. Great tweets of tonight's #epsb meeting. #abed
63. SF Audience applaudes Trustee Dave Colburn’s comments regarding Sakinah Circle alternative program #epsb #abed #yeg
62. SF Sue Huff: Coming together in smaller&smaller groups. 84 students only. Would like all students like to learn this info. #abed #epsb
61. SF comment: applause is something new at #epsb meetings #abed Could we be becoming more human?
60. SF Sue Huff: What is the number to be considered to be viable? #epsb #abed #yeg Admin: wanted to start small.
59. SF Sue Huff: Staffing? Is their enough teachers? Mentors? #epsb #yeg #abed
58. SF Admin: Standard will be for respectful dress. Not any hard and fast rules. Other staff do not have to meet any dress codes #epsb #abed #yeg
57. SF 8th speaker Trustee Candidate Heather MacKenzie speaks regarding child care centre #abed #yeg #epsb
56. SF Sakinah Circle Alternative program approved by #epsb #abed #yeg
55. SF Councilor Tony Caterina & MLA Hugh MacDonald acknowledged as being in the audience #epsb #yeg #yegcc
54. SF back from break. MLA Hugh MacDonald will speak. #epsb #abed #ableg
53. SF MLA Hugh MacDonald. Has not received any answers from #epsb although requested information #abed #yeg
52. SF Hugh MacDonald: 30% increase in pre-schoolers. Why use a flawed formula. Capilano pays of $1M #epsb #abed but yet will lose their school.
51. SF Hugh MacDonald: Info provided by admin is not accurate. #epsb #abed Loud applause.
50. SF Community Response to Urban Disorder President speaking re Parkdale School #epsb #abed #yeg
49. SF CRUD is does youth programming and community building #abed #epsb #yeg
48. SF CRUD with right partners and right engagement‚ could build Parkdale school. Dazzled by true community spirit in this area #epsb #abed
47. SF CRUD We cannot use conventional strategies in unconventional times. (That says it all)
46. SF CRUD President is an Edmonton Police Sargent. Parkdale is a hub for families. #epsb #abed #yeg
45. SF CRUD Natural place for facilities for police and other community services #epsb #abed #yegcc
44. SF Multicultural Health Brokers Coop (MHBC) and a number of other #yegNonProfit s speaking #epsb #abed
43. SF Commend the board on their multicultural policies. McCaulley school 50% immigrants with a history of displacement&trauma #epsb #yeg #abed
42. SF MHBC: #epsb offering students new options but will not give what the students need‚ community&support #abed #yeg
41. SF MHBC Expand what has already been built. Expand preschool programming. Co-locate agencies for support for families #abed #epsb #yeg
40. SF MHBC Presenting a financial plan to support their vision. Cost-sharing for upgrades etc. Why not enhance community space? #epsb #abed #ableg
39. SF MHBC Work collaboratively with other schools in the area. All communities do not have the same needs as others. #abed #epsb #ableg<<amen.
38. SF Muttart foundation speaking next #epsb #abed #yeg
37. SF Muttart Foundation & Success by 6 speaking. Talking
36. SF Muttart Foundation: Speaking to the requirements for successful education for new immigrant and refugee students #epsb #abed #yeg
35. SF Muttart Foundation: Most effective educational setting: students feel valued&belong-McCaulley has created safe space; is unique #epsb #abed
34. SF Muttart: Social and academic cost of moving students-analysis says it outweighs other benefits #epsb #abed #yeg
33. CS Attentively following @SF 's Twittercast as #yeg non-profits rally in support of threatened inner city #epsb schools. #abed #yegcc
32. SF Muttart: The health&vitality of a school reflects the broader context of the health of the community #epsb #abed #yeg
31. SF Sue Huff talking to motion to rationalize school space. Quoting from the experts #epsb admin as to my the formula is wrong #abed #yeg
30. SF Sue Huff reading a very detailed report by #epsb admin as to why current formula is greatly flawed. #abed (batteries might fail dh)
29. SF Sue Huff: having the true capacity of schools is essential to making serious decisions
28. MJ RT @CS: Attentively following @SF 's Twittercast as #yeg non-profits support of threatened innercity #epsb schools. #abed #yegcc
27. SF Trustee Ken Shipka pointing out how the capacity nos for a particular school are wrong #abed #epsb #yeg
26. SF There will not be enough space in a school in one case after closures #abed #epsb #yeg
25. SF Trustee D Colburn: When did the philosophical shift happen re space for #epsb admin? #abed
24. GA RT @SF Sakinah Circle Alternative program approved by #epsb #abed #yeg
23. SF Trustee D Colburn: The Min of Education has taken the lead in this case re space calculation #epsb #abed #ableg
22. SF Superintendent is struggling to explain why they choose to use an inflated formula #epsb #abed
21. SF David Colburn is trying to get the administration to explain their space calculations #epsb #abed
20. SF Dave Colburn it very well may be that our space issue is not anywhere near what it was claimed #epsb #abed
19. SF #epsb Admin says that expected changes in formula in the past, but have not transpired!! #epsb #ableg #abed DC says he is sure they will.
18. SF Dave Colburn talking
17. CS Even if you are only mildly interested in #yeg politics, tune into @SF for an amazing broadcast. #epsb #abed #yegcc
16. TO @CS Interesting to follow the discussion. Thanks @SF for providing the updates! #yeg #epsb #abed
15. scodonnell Trustees vote 2 keep using provincial utilization formula to look at student capacity, along with ACOL #s and other stats. #abed #epsb
14. SF RT @scodonnell: Trustees vote 2 keep using provincial utilization formula to look at student capacity, along with ACOL #s and other stats. #abed #epsb
13. SF Parents asking how the money is being spent. #epsb #abed #ableg <<where are the internal auditors
12. SF Parents cite waste and mismanagement & unfair practices #abed #epsb #abed (sorry problem with Internet)
11. SF Parents cite waste and mismanagement & unfair practices #abed #epsb #ableg (sorry problem with Internet)
10. SF Trustee Ripley essentially made a motion that scuttled any attempt to use meaningful capacity numbers for students #epsb #abed #ableg
9. SF Trustee Ripley essentially made a motion that scuttled any attempt to use meaningful capacity numbers for students #epsb #abed #yeg
8. SF #yeg the #epsb squeeze is on! #abed <<how this board has any credibility with planning&maintenance is a wonder #ableg
7. SF thought: CoE has public internal audit reports. where are #epsb reports? #abed #ableg
6. SF The meeting is over. Almost 4 hours! #epsb #abed #ableg #yeg
5. AG Thank you for the gt8 tweets. Worked late & missed mtg. RT @SF: The meeting is over. Almost 4 hours! #epsb #abed #ableg #yeg
4. NM @SF Thx Dale for the tweets. Should be a fun #epsb meeting on April 13th.
3. LS @SF So the gist of it, how will this affect the current proposed school closures? #yef #epsb #ableg #abed
2. SF @LS sorry. The record is that #epsb will simply close as many schools as they can. They don't share our vision for #yeg #abed
1. suehuff Disappointed/frustrated my motion re: #abed utilization was substituted off the island, in favour of using 3 capacity measures. #epsb