CBE asks parents for input on budget

The Calgary Board of Education has begun pre-budget consultations and wants to hear from parents, staff and community membersabout its spending priorities.

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However, the first such session, held atHaysboroschool in the city's southweston Monday night, attracted only three parents.

Jada Campbell was one of thoseparents.

She has two childrenwho attend two different public schools andshe believes the CBE is offering too many alternative programs, which increasesbusing costs,and takes away from core funding.

"And I think that's what parents are feeling is a lot of inequality, with their fees and their service in comparison to some other programs and offerings within the system," she said.

Carla Male is leading the sessions forthe Calgary Board of Education.

"I think the people we had here were very engaged and they had a lot of great ideas," she said.

Male says the process of engaging the public in the discussion of school finances is new for the board and adds that people can also provideinput on the budget process through theCBEwebsite.

The next pre-budget consultation takes place Tuesday evening at Marlborough school in the northeast.