JEWISH NEW YEAR CELEBRATE WITH THIS HONEY-THYME GLAZED CHICKEN {page 42}
www. B e a t t i e H o m e s . c o m
TAKE OFF RICCI LEADS YOU TO A TIME VOID OF PAT-DOWNS
{page 34}
CALGARY
Weekend, September 23-25, 2011 www.metronews.ca News worth sharing.
Education fuels Tory debate
Festival. VIP
If elected premier, Alison Redford says she will reverse schooling budget cuts within 10 days Opponents deem plan ineffective JEREMY NOLAIS
Slashed teaching jobs
@METRONEWS.CA
Proper measures to put teachers back in Alberta classrooms were thrust into the spotlight Thursday following a bold promise by one of three remaining candidates for premier. If elected Oct. 1, Tory leadership hopeful Alison Redford says she will reverse an estimated $100 million worth of education cuts in the 201112 budget within 10 days of coming into office. “There are opportunities to make things better for parents and students in the classrooms now, and we should be making those decisions,” she said. But Serafino Scarpino, board of trustees chair for the Calgary Catholic School District, questioned whether Redford’s restoration effort would have an immediate impact, noting final staffing decisions will be made provincewide by Sept. 30.
The Calgary Board of Education slashed 171 frontline teaching positions in the spring — roughly one job at every public school in the city — to overcome a projected $62-million budget shortfall. Administrative representatives as well as board of trustees chair Pat Cochrane declined requests for comment on Redford’s proposal Thursday. Leslie Newton, co-president of the Calgary Association of Parents and School Councils, approved of Alison Redford’s proposal to immediately restore education funding cuts.
Scarpino’s district has already slashed 92 full-time staffing positions in the spring. “It’s difficult to change classes and do things of that nature with
kids once they get established,” he said, “but the money is always welcome — it would be used in some way.” Fellow Tory leadership hopefuls Gary Mar and Doug Horner have both pledged to reinvest in education as well, but questioned Redford’s haste Thursday. “To say that you could do this in 10 days shows a lack of understanding of how the (treasury) board works,” Mar said. “This is about doing it right, not doing it right away.” Horner has not specified a dollar amount needed to restore education systems but instead is proposing to begin analyzing how to “budget for success.” Redford acknowledged that hiring more frontline teachers at this point in the school year is not practical, but said the added funds could be put towards improving support staffing levels immediately. “Do it because it’s an important value,” she said. “Just do it and make it right.”
Sun-Wed Family Style Pasta Feast Any 3 for $35
Canadian actor Bruce Greenwood walks the red carpet at the Globe Cinema Thursday night. JEREMY NOLAIS/METRO
CIFF’s opening gala
In its 12th year, the Calgary International Film Festival promised to provide a range of films starting Friday and running until Oct. 2. Of those in attendance last night, none drew more attention than Star Trek star Bruce Greenwood, who was also featured in the evening’s film, Donovan’s Echo. Story, page 8.
::: 726&$1$*5,// &$ 403.255.1212