Education minister chides school boards for excluding politicians from grad events

Alberta's education minister has admonished school boards for allegedly preventing provincial and federal politicians from taking part in high school graduation events.

In a letter to school board chairs Thursday, Adriana LaGrange says MLAs have told her they were excluded from some spring graduation celebrations.

"Please remember, these graduation ceremonies are about our children, not our own political views," LaGrange wrote.

"We all need to put politics aside and ensure that our students receive the most memorable experiences possible."

LaGrange said there is "absolutely no reason" why politicians from any level of government should be prevented from participating in events such as drive-by ceremonies or online gatherings, which are replacing traditional graduation ceremonies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

LaGrange declined an interview request on Friday. Her press secretary, Colin Aitchison, said in a statement that both federal members of Parliament and provincial MLAs are "facing barriers" to attending graduation events.

Inviting local politicians is a long-standing practice, he said.

"The letter was sent to simply remind school divisions that if they are hosting a graduation through an alternative means, there should be ways to accommodate attendance from local councillors, MLAs, or MPs," he said.

CBC was unable to speak to any MLAs or federal elected officials who say they had been personally excluded from graduations.  

Invitations a courtesy, trustee says

The letter was obtained and released on Friday by advocacy group Support Our Students Alberta. In a news release, the organization alleges the minister is overstepping her authority by sending the letter.

"This email has a distinctly intimidating, 'kiss the ring' attitude that we find troubling" said communications director Barbara Silva.

Aitchison didn't answer a question about whether the rejections were directed at members of one or more political parties. He didn't say which schools or divisions were turning politicians away.

LaGrange represents the constituency of Red Deer-North.

Red Deer public school board chair Nicole Buchanan said local politicians are usually invited to graduation ceremonies. But 2020 is no typical year, she said.

Although she hasn't heard any complaints about politicians being excluded from Red Deer graduations, local representatives — including school trustees — were not invited to two graduation events in the city, she said.

Staff at Hunting Hills High School dropped off packages at graduates' homes to mark the occasion, Buchanan said.

Staff at Lindsay Thurber High School lined up outside the building and handed scrolls to students in their vehicles, she said. The school has more than 50 staff and it would have been problematic to invite more people to the drive-by while respecting public health guidelines, she said.

"I think had the MLAs not been invited to, say, the 2019 graduation, yes, this letter would have been warranted," Buchanan said. "But 2020 is very different in that our administration and staff are trying to find ways to recognize the milestone that these graduating students are currently going through."

The division plans to hold in-person graduation ceremonies in December.

MLAs and other guests will be invited, she said.

"Is it an expectation to be invited? No, I think it's a courtesy," she said.

Buchanan said she's proud of the celebrations staff arranged for graduates who respected orders to keep people two metres apart.

Cancelling ceremonies for students who have worked hard for 13 years was "heartbreaking," she said.

School boards face funding squeeze

Alberta School Boards' Assocation President Lorrie Jess said she's not sure what trustees should do with the letter, since school-based committees, not boards, organize graduations and select guests.

"I don't think it's about whether or not political figures have the right to attend," Jess said Friday. "It's about students and what they want to do to celebrate."

NDP MLA and education critic Sarah Hoffman said sometimes schools turn down her requests to attend graduation ceremonies, and that's OK.

"It's an honour any time you're allowed to speak at such a significant event as a graduation," she said. "This is a big milestone in a lot of families."

With the pandemic cancelling in-person classes, the uncertainty about future classes and a pinch in provincial school funding, Hoffman said students and families shouldn't lament politicians' hurt feelings.

"I don't want the school to worry about the ego of MLAs," she said.

With changes to the education funding model that give proportionally less funding to growing school boards, the layoffs of thousands of school support staff during the pandemic and rising school fees, parents and students may be feeling less receptive to visits from government MLAs, she said.

LaGrange's letter said she also received complaints from parents who expected to see local politicians at graduation events.