Cost outside Class

Original Air Date: Friday, August 31, 2012

Extra fees from school boards are adding up for Alberta parents. This September, a new one for children who ride the bus to Calgary public schools; and for lunchtime supervision - a fee many other Albertans already pay. Anger among parents has sparked a review by Alberta Education.  

Critics say the Province needs to fund services such as lunch monitoring. Alberta school boards set their own fees and parents question how their money is being spent.

Is the price for public education growing too high? Are school boards transparent enough? Should Alberta set province-wide standards for fees?
 
Joining us for this discussion is Cheryl Smith, Vice President of the Alberta School Boards Association and Chair of the Battle River School Division; Trina Hurdman, Education Advocate and a concerned parent; and Frank Bruseker, President of the Calgary Public Teachers Association and Former President of the Alberta Teachers' Association.