First Nations in Alberta allowed to be appointed school trustees without vote

Citing a need to improve the voice of First Nations parents, the Alberta government has quietly added a provision to its Education Act that allows appointments—rather than election—of school board trustees from select communities. The provision applies only to boards that have a tuition agreement in place with a neighbouring First Nations reserve. For example, the Calgary Board of Education would be eligible, as children from Tsuu T'ina learn at city schools. But the Alberta School Boards Association's president says the new provisions outlined in the act, which could become law as early as late 2014, would likely first be used by certain rural school boards in the province that have agreements in place with multiple First Nations bands. Metro Calgary