Wildrose Drumheller-Stettler MLA Rick Strankman met with the Clearview board of trustees on Thursday, Feb 25. at the regular board meeting as trustees and Clearview Superintendent Peter Barron discussed various issues regarding funding, transportation, changes to Policy 105 ('Safe and Caring Schools') and capital plans.
"I believe Clearview's performance has been equal to the other boards in my constituency, but the general standards seem to be high," said Strankman.
When trustee Dave Goodwin brought up the topic of funding needed to replace the William E. Hay Secondary Campus's racetrack, Strankman said that he would be more than willing to support with letters of recommendation for any grant application that the board might make.
"I think there may be several community involvement options, including both the town and county," added Strankman. "There may also be suitable grant applications available, since the locally elected school boards are the best suited to work through their own situations, I think those decisions should be left in the hands of locally elected bodies."
According to Strankman, the constituency of Drumheller-Stettler is vast and diverse overlaid with several school jurisdictions, such as Prairie Rose, Prairieland, Clearview, and Golden Hills.
"I apologize if I have left any but the citizen-elected boards all strive to do their best within their various legislated guidelines and these guidelines are all created with the best of intentions but in any fluid dynamic situation there can be unintended consequences," explained Strankman. "It's the mandate of these boards to navigate through these real-life situations with 'best practices' for all."
Assessment of the board practices is up to their electorate, as they are trying to achieve 'best practices' by comparison to others and tracking their own trends of performance to raise standards and it seems to be working he added
"In my relatively short elected span, I've met with all these school bodies on occasions and it has been my observation that they all are acting in the best interests of the children and adults they serve," said Strankman. "The most recent province-wide subject of gender recognition has been cause for serious debate and attention and I have full confidence these bodies will give this subject the respect and attention it deserves to protect all involved."