Education

Deputy Minister
7th Floor, Commerce Place
10155 - 102 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4L5
Canada
Telephone 780-427-3659
Fax 780-427-7733

July 13, 2016

Ms. Marilyn Bergstra

Chair
Edmonton Catholic Separate School District
9807 - 106 Street
Edmonton AB TSK 1C2
Dear Ms. Bergstra:
As indicated in the recent letter you received from the Honourable David Eggen, Minister of
Education, Don Cummings has moved on from his role as observer effective June 30, 2016.
However, it is clear that serious issues of board governance continue and require your immediate
attention.
Based on the results of the observer's report, as well as all other information obtained through
numerous meetings and correspondence between your board/district and my office and the
department, I am directing the board to improve its governance capacity and competencies and
increase overall board accountability. In particular, I require the board to:
1. Redefine the board policies, practices or protocols in the following areas:
- the board's role and mandate;
- committee structure, mandate and process;
- code of conduct;
board, trustee and chair role clarity; and
- board and administration relationship.
2. Monitor the adoption of the newly developed policies, practices and protocols on an ongoing
basis to ensure the board's conduct is leading to more respectful and effective interaction
among the board members and the administration; and
3. Review board governance process and adopt new policies, protocol or practice in the areas
of:
- policy development;
fiduciary oversight;
- budget development;

Ms. Marilyn Bergstra

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development/validation of the district's strategic plan;

agenda management;
administrative enquiries;
communications protocols; and
annual governance effectiveness evaluations.

It is my expectation that your board will plan to undertake specific actions that will result in
demonstrated improvement in these areas. To that end, I require you to submit, by September 30,
2016, an implementation plan and timeline for how these actions will be carried out over the next
15 months.
In further consideration of the observer's report, your plan should include strategies to increase
board development and support as it relates to the governance and competencies necessary for
the role of school board trustee.
Finally, I require that you keep me apprised of the progress achieved on improving Edmonton
Catholic Separate School District's governance practices and processes by reporting to me, in
writing, on a bi-monthly basis beginning November 30, 2016.

If you have any questions, please contact my office. I expect your continued engagement in the
improvement process in order to serve the best interests of students attending Edmonton Catholic
schools.
Sincerely,

be&
Curtis Clarke, PhD
Deputy Minister