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After years of confrontation with the province over school funding, local governance and COVID safety in classrooms, the majority of public school trustees have chosen not to be re-elected in the next civic vote.

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And without cheers, every elected position for the Calgary Board of Education will be hotly contested, with just two incumbents – Marilyn Dennis and Althea Adams – campaigning to return.

Experts say the high number of retirements is likely linked to recent battles with the UCP government, from declining funding to governance and financial reviews launched by Alberta Education, and now to lingering frustrations over supports to deal with COVID in schools.

“The dynamic of conflict between the public school board and the provincial government has increased dramatically, especially now during COVID,” said Lisa Young, professor of political science at the University of Calgary.

“For the administrators, it was particularly difficult. They are facing so much pressure from parents because of the COVID situation in schools.

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“So much has been uploaded to them. I don’t think there has ever been a time when the role of the school trustee has been more important.

Administrator Mike Bradshaw, who will retire after a single term, admitted struggles with the province – such as CBE being left to manage its own COVID protocols – were among the reasons he chose to step down .

“There were a lot of challenges, sure. . . and, yeah, it’s been a tough four years, ”said Bradshaw, who originally showed up in 2017 with the student account candidate slate promising to correct math and improve report cards.

“But this past year since COVID has been particularly difficult. I have heard many, many parents, some in favor of masks, others against vaccines and wearing masks. They were very vocal, ”added Bradshaw.

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“This new set of Trustees will take office at a very, very difficult time.”

After the UCP government asked school districts to manage their own COVID protocols this fall, the CBE implemented a mask mandate for all K-12 students, raising concerns about the decision of the province to stop tracking positive tests, no longer providing contact tracing support and not require close contact to self-isolate after exposure.

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Last week, the CBE sent a letter to the province asking it to step up the response to the pandemic as it grapples with an unknown number of rising cases, including the reinstatement of contact tracing.

But the letter was just one of many examples in which the CBE has clashed with the province over the last term, especially during the Spring Budgets, when trustees still argue that funding received from the province does not meet the needs of a growing student population.

Right after the UCP government election in the spring of 2019, the CBE presented a controversial $ 1.4 billion budget that included a $ 40 million shortfall and potential cuts to 220 teaching positions.

Months later, Alberta Education launched an independent review of CBE’s financial and governance issues, as Education Minister Adriana LaGrange accused the board of having a history of financial problems.

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Administrator Julie Hrdlicka, who is also retiring, said that in addition to subjecting the CBE to “public contempt,” the UCP government has also opened the door to the privatization of education.

“The warning lights are flashing,” Hrdlicka said.

“The province has eliminated the charter school cap and removed the authority of local school districts, while bowing to a small number of home school and private school players.”

Hrdlicka hopes the new council will continue to advocate for what has become a limited amount of funding for public education.

Of the seven seats up for grabs, each has a full roster of candidates vying for the post – many are newcomers, others have already run and one even served on CBE’s board years ago. .

In wards 1 and 2, formerly held by retiree Trina Hurdman, four candidates will compete for the seat, including former teacher Dana Downey.

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In Wards 3 and 4, incumbent Adams will face challenges from four other candidates, including another former teacher, Laura Hack, who also ran in the last election.

In Wards 5 and 10, titular Dennis faces the larger field, with nine contenders running against her in the city’s most diverse northeast corner.

Wards 6 and 7 have been an open seat since former administrator Lisa Davis resigned amid a cloud of controversy in early 2020.

Davis said she felt compelled to leave after the CBE passed a secret motion preventing her from speaking freely to listeners as part of the independent review initiated by Alberta Education.

A group of five contenders in these southwestern neighborhoods include Patricia Bolger, who lost a close race to Davis in 2017. Bolger currently teaches at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary as a lecturer.

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In wards 8 and 9, vacated by retired administrator Richard Hehr, five candidates will fight for the seat, including Susan Vukadinovic, a project consultant who has worked with the City of Calgary, charter schools and the ‘Alberta Urban Municipalities Association.

Wards 11 and 13, vacated by Hrdlicka, have three candidates running, including Nancy Close, who has worked with Mayor Naheed Nenshi for the past 10 years and was a director of the CBE from 1999 to 2007.

In Wards 12 and 14, released by Bradshaw, five candidates are in contention, although only two, Charlene May and Dar Zuch, have campaign websites.

Meanwhile, Calgary’s Catholic School District will see fewer contested races with three acclaimed administrators including Lory Iovinelli in Wards 6 and 8, Cathie Williams in Wards 11 and 12 and Mary Martin in Wards 13 and 14.

Most of the CCDS incumbents will run for re-election, including Myra D’Souza in Wards 1, 2 and Cochrane, Linda Wellman in Wards 3, 5 and Airdrie, and Pamela Rath in Wards 4 and 7.

Only Cheryl Low will retire in Wards 9, 10 and Chestermere, leaving the race open to three candidates.

Calgarians will vote in the municipal election on October 18.

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