'Crumbling' schools spark outrage

'Crumbling' schools spark outrage

Emma Poole, Calgary Herald

Published: Thursday, June 08, 2006

Calgary schools are disgusting, shameful and appalling, and they need urgent attention, the NDP's education critic told parents at a town hall meeting Wednesday.

A visibly frustrated Ray Martin told the crowd of less than 20 that there needs to be an immediate solution to a "snowballing problem" taking over the education system.

"It's unbelievable with the amount of money going into this province that there are schools crumbling," said Martin, the keynote speaker at the meeting dubbed School Disgrace.

"There's only one way to deal with this. The bottom line is, you can pay now or you can pay later."

Also at the town hall meeting were Cathie Williams, chairwoman of the Calgary Catholic school board; D'Arcy Lanovaz, president of CUPE Alberta; and Cathy Taylor, vice-president of the Calgary Association of Parents and School Councils. It was held at the Albert Park Radisson Heights Community Hall, 1310 28th St. S.E.

The Calgary Board of Education has accused the province of lacking a long-term, sustainable plan for funding new school construction.

Premier Ralph Klein responded angrily to the charge, saying he was "madder than hell" to hear trustees and teachers attack his government's record of funding public education.

But Lanovaz, who represents 6,000 school caretakers and maintenance workers in Alberta, said the government has long turned a blind eye to the growing infrastructure needs of schools.

"A $50 repair becomes a $500 repair. In the case of the Calgary Board of Education, it becomes a $500-million repair," said Lanovaz.

Schools, he said, are "starved" for operating funds, and the situation will only get worse if the government doesn't start repairing the damage now.

Lanovaz said the recent evacuation of a Calgary school over fears the roof would collapse is a prime example of what happens when a problem is ignored.

Taylor is asking parents to start sending letters to Klein's office demanding a funding increase for maintenance and new schools.

"This isn't about going on a spending spree. This is about basic planning," she said.

epoole@theherald.canwest.com