以下声明由CBE董事会主席Marilyn Dennis在2020年2月4日的公开董事会会议上宣读。

根据《教育法》，董事Lisa Davis于2020年1月27日向公司秘书递交了辞呈，该辞呈立即生效。我们感谢Davis女士为CBE的学生、家长和学校所做的服务。董事会祝愿Davis女士在未来的事业中一切顺利。

目前，董事会尚未就进行补选的选项进行讨论。未来，董事会将乐意维护Wards 6和7学生、家长和员工的利益。董事会致力于确保学生价值观放在首位，学习是我们的核心目标，并维护公共教育对公共利益的服务。

我还想就关于卡尔加里教育局董事会运作方式的最近描述发表一点意见。作为公众选举的董事，我们每个人都宣誓代表卡尔加里市所有公民，为学生和公共教育的最大利益行事。我们非常认真对待这一责任，并尽力按照法规履行我们的职责。

在2019年12月，省政府宣布对CBE的财务和治理进行独立的外部调查。董事会和CBE管理层正在全力配合调查。CBE以公开、真实和透明的方式提供所要求的所有信息，包括文件和采访。

在整个过程中，我们的行为合理，并与任何受调查组织的行为一致。在调查开始时，CBE与首席调查人确认CBE的法律顾问可以参与其中。截至目前，16次面试中有15次没有出现任何问题或挑战。我们了解到第16次面试将在本周完成。

作为公众代表，我们重视开放和透明的原则，并反映在我们的治理政策和董事会会议程序中。所有董事会会议均符合法规和我们的会议程序。根据《教育法》（第64条），允许所有学校董事会进行私下会议。通常，在私下会议上讨论的话题涉及土地、劳动力、法律和战略治理等。公开和私下董事会会议记录，记录所有提出的动议和每个董事的投票情况，都会在CBE公共网站上公布。

作为一个董事会，我们重视每个董事给我们讨论带来的不同观点。我们欢迎可以进一步促进我们系统中学生成功的新想法。在做出决策之前，我们会对问题进行深入研究，向管理层和彼此提问，考虑不同的观点，最后投票。这个过程使我们每个人的声音都能够被听到。在投票之后，我们致力于尊重决定并团结一致往前走。这就是一个健康的民主组织的运作方式。

董事们努力使自己对开放、透明和持续改进的原则负责。我们相信我们目前的治理政策和程序完全符合法规和强有力的治理实践。

问题和答案

董事会为什么同意在2020年1月26日星期日进行私下会议？

董事会为了及时获得与调查相关的信息而开会。我们在星期日晚上开会，因为这最适合大多数董事的时间安排。这次会议是在私下进行的，根据《教育法》第64(3)条和CBE的董事会会议程序是允许的。没有董事反对举行这次会议，议案以全票通过，决定将此事私下讨论。

CBE为什么要请律师出席？

律师在调查过程中为组织提供参与和支持是常见的。律师协助CBE对调查做出回应。CBE在12月份与首席调查人确认了CBE律师可以参与该过程。到目前为止，这并没有成为问题，已经完成了16次面试中的15次，没有引起任何关注。

CBE律师的存在是否限制了被采访者的发言权？

不会。参与者被鼓励在面试中诚实、开放和坦率地回答问题。CBE律师的存在是为了支持整个过程，并不意味着干扰人们对调查事项的发言权。

为什么人们不能选择自己的律师？

通知了个人他们可以带自己的法律顾问来代表他们的个人利益。CBE在这一过程中确认，它的法律顾问也可以出席以支持组织。CBE的法律顾问的权利绝不妨碍个人选择自己的法律顾问的权利，也不会干扰他们全面参与调查程序的权利。

您对部长在媒体上提出的对保密1月26日会议信息的担忧有何回应？

与部长分享的信息来自董事会的保密会议。这些信息包括被视为特权的法律建议，这意味着信息在接受建议的人员和提供建议的人员之间是私密的，并且受法律保护。

The following statement was read by CBE Board of Trustees Chair Marilyn Dennis at the February 4, 2020 Public Board Meeting.

On January, 27, 2020, pursuant to the Education Act, Trustee Lisa Davis submitted her resignation to the Corporate Secretary which became effective immediately. We thank Ms. Davis for her service to CBE students, parents and the schools that she has worked with. The Board wishes Ms. Davis all the best in her future endeavours.

The Board has not yet considered its options around holding a by-election. Going forward, the Board will be pleased to look after the interests of students, parents and staff in Wards 6 & 7. The Board is committed to ensuring the values of students come first, learning is our central purpose and public education serves the common good will be upheld.

I would also like to address recent characterizations of how the Board of Trustees of the Calgary Board of Education operates. As publicly elected trustees, each one of us swore an oath to act in the best interest of students and public education on behalf of all citizens of Calgary. We take this responsibility very seriously. We diligently perform our legislated responsibilities to the best of our abilities.

In December 2019 the province announced an independent, external investigation of the finances and governance of the CBE. The Board and CBE administration are cooperating fully with the investigation. The CBE has been open, honest and transparent by providing all requested information through documentation and interviews.

Throughout this process, our actions have been reasonable and consistent with how any organization under investigation would act. It is common for legal counsel to support organizations during investigations. At the start of the process, CBE confirmed with the lead investigator that CBE legal counsel could participate. The presence of legal counsel has not presented any concerns or challenges in 15 of 16 interviews completed to date. We understand that the sixteenth interview will be completed this week.

As representatives of the public, we value the principles of openness and transparency and this is reflected in our governance policies and board meeting procedures. All meetings of the Board of Trustees are consistent with legislation and our board meeting procedures. Under the Education Act (Section 64) all school boards are permitted to meet privately. Typically the topics discussed at private meetings relate to land, labour, legal and strategic governance. All public and private board meeting minutes, which record all motions made and how each trustee voted, are posted on the CBE public website.

As a Board, we value the differing perspectives that each individual trustee may bring to our discussions. We welcome new ideas that could further student success in our system. Before making decisions, we study issues thoroughly, ask probing questions of administration and each other, and consider different viewpoints before ultimately voting. This process allows for each of our voices to be heard. After the vote is taken, we commit to respecting the decision and moving forward as a united Board. This is how a healthy democratic organization functions.

Trustees strive to hold ourselves accountable to the principles of openness, transparency, and continuous improvement. We are confident that our current governance policies and procedures are fully compliant with legislation and strong governance practices.

Questions & Answers

Why did the Board agree to meet in private on Sunday, January 26, 2020?

The Board met to receive timely information related to the investigation. We met on Sunday evening as it best fit the majority of trustees’ schedules. The meeting was held in private which is permitted by section 64(3) of the Education Act and under the CBE’s board meeting procedures. No trustees objected to holding the meeting, and the motion to discuss the matter privately was passed unanimously.

Why does CBE want counsel present?

It is common for counsel to participate and support organizations during investigations. Counsel assists CBE to be responsive to the investigation. The CBE confirmed in December with the lead investigator that CBE counsel could participate in the process. This has not been an issue thus far; 15 of 16 interviews have been completed without concern.

Does the presence of CBE counsel place any restrictions on what those being interviewed can say?

No. All participants were encouraged to be honest, open and candid in their interviews and to answer questions put to them. The presence of CBE counsel was to support the process and was not intended to interfere with what people have to say about the matters under investigation.

Why can’t people choose their own lawyer?

Individuals were told they can bring their own legal counsel to represent their individual interest. The CBE confirmed in this process that its legal counsel could also be present to support the organization. The CBE’s right to legal counsel in no way impedes an individual right to their counsel of choice, nor does it interfere with their right to fully participate in the investigation proceedings.

What is your response to concerns raised by the Minister in the media about keeping the information from the January 26, 2020 meeting confidential?

The information shared with the Minister comes from a confidential, private, meeting of the Board. It included legal advice that is considered privileged which means the information is private between the persons receiving the advice and those giving the advice, and this privacy is protected by law.​​