Alberta Education audit of CBE finds under-budgeting common practice among Alberta's metro school boards

An operational review of the Calgary Board of Education has found that despite concerns around how the school board operates, many of their practices are actually similar to other metro boards in the province.

The review began in June 2017, two monthsafter the CBEpresented a budget toits board identifying a $40 million potential shortfall for the following year.

That news raised alarm bells about how the board was allocating its money.

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Buta review just completed by Alberta Education found this practice of under-budgeting is also done by boards in Edmonton, Lethbridge and Red Deer.

"Over the past three-year period, all four metros under budgeted revenues, which appears to be the main cause for the significant positive differences in actual surplus [deficit]projections," reads the review.

The review goes on to call this a "common conservative budgeting practice used by many school boards."

When it comes to the CBEhowever, the main concern raised by the auditor was the fact that the preliminary unapproved budget deficit information was tabled before administration identified cost-savingmeasures and before a final budget was approved.

"It is important for CBE and all school boards to work with Alberta Education before making preliminary budget information public."

Education Minister David Eggensaidsharing preliminary budgets publicly might be causing unnecessary panic.

"That can sometimes cause concern and sometimes cause decision-making processes that are not in keeping with the fiscal reality of a board.Not just with CBE, but in general," he said.

Eggen said it was essentialthe review be constructively critical when necessary.

"You're dealing with something that's far too valuable to suggest anything but constructive engagement for the sake of children's education," he said.

The review also found the CBE was on par with those other boards for spending on schools and administration.

CBE board chair Trina Hurdman calls the findings a relief.

"We're very pleased that it shows we are in line with the other school boards and that in many places other than the education centre lease that there were no substantial issues that were raised with how we are managing our organization."

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