Edmonton Public Schools
Board Policies and Regulations

1. The primary purpose of Trustee remuneration is to recognize the importance of the publicly elected office of Trustee for Edmonton Public Schools and to attract and retain quality individuals to this valuable public service.

2. The total Trustee remuneration package should recognize the role and responsibilities undertaken by the collective Board, individual Trustees and the time required in fulfilling their responsibilities.

3. The remuneration package offered for Trustees is comprised of per annum honoraria, per diem honoraria, an advance on vehicle expenses, optional group benefits coverage, and deferred remuneration for transition from the role of Trustee.

4. For the purposes of and in accordance with the Income Tax Act, total annual remuneration is comprised of 2/3 honorarium and 1/3 general expense allowance. The 1/3 general expense allowance is non-taxable and is intended to cover all incidental expenses that Trustees may be expected to incur in carrying out their responsibilities.

5. Per annum honoraria are based on the following four roles: Board Chair, Vice-Chair, Conference Chair, and Trustee.

6. The per annum honorarium provides remuneration for activities required of all Trustees, including:
   • Attendance on regularly scheduled and reserved meeting dates for Board and Conference Committee;

   • Attendance at results and budget review meetings, committees of the Board, and Trustees' retreats and working sessions;

   • Attendance at annual conferences and meetings of associations of which the Board is a member, e.g. the ASBA and PSBAA;

   • Attendance at other meetings as appointed, directed or agreed to by the Board, such as meetings with other school Boards, MLAs, City Councillors, Board-hosted functions, social events, etc.

   • Ward-related activities, including school and school council meetings and important community functions;

7. Per annum honoraria are established as per the following requirements:
   • the per annum honorarium for the Board Chair is established at approximately 33% higher than the per annum honoraria established for Trustees;
   • the per annum honorarium for the Vice-Chair and Conference Chair is established at approximately 16.5% higher than the per annum honoraria established for Trustees.

8. Per diem honoraria provide remuneration for special meetings* of the Board and committees of the whole and for activities of some, but not all Trustees, including:
   1. attendance at scheduled meetings of negotiating committee bargaining sessions and the Interpretations Committee, as established under the collective agreements;

   2. attendance at meetings as appointed Board representatives on external organizations where no remuneration is provided by the external organization (e.g., ASBA Zone 23, PSBC, ASBALE, Linkages Committee and EPS Foundation Board of Governors),

   3. attendance at the Fall Alberta Schools Association Annual General Meeting business session,

   4. attendance at the Fall Public School Boards Association Annual General meeting business session.

   * A special meeting is in addition to regularly scheduled meetings for which the per annum honorarium is paid.

9. At the Board's discretion, a supplementary honorarium may be provided to recognize extraordinary work and time commitments placed on Trustees serving on Board committees or task forces.

10. Trustees receive an advance on vehicle expenses at the district occasional use rate to cover in-town travel expenses related to other Trustee duties. This amount is included in the calculation of annual remuneration and is one-third non-taxable. In-town travel expenses do not include travel to and from meetings of the Board and committees.

11. Trustees are extended the option of participating in the group medical and hospitalization plans offered by the Board:
    • Alberta School Employee Benefits Plan (ASEBP):
      • Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (Plans 2 & 4)
      • Extended Health Care (Plan 1) (effective May 1, 2007)
      • Dental Care (Plan 3)
      • Vision Care (Plan 3)
      • Health Spending Account (effective September 1, 2006)
    • Travel Accident Insurance
    • Supplemental Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance

    The Board will pay the portion of premiums for the above benefits based on the portion of premiums the Board pays for benefits on behalf of exempt management staff.

12. For a Trustee aged 65 or older at the time of election or re-election, the district will reimburse the Trustee for the cost of premiums for similar benefits coverage (i.e., extended health care, dental care, vision care) with an external agency. Reimbursement of premiums will be up to the maximum premium cost for similar coverage under the District's benefit plan for exempt management employees until age 70.

13. At the end of each Trustee's service, such Trustee shall receive deferred remuneration to ease the transition from such service. Such payment shall be made at the rate of two weeks per year of service as a Trustee, and shall be determined by multiplying the number of years and part-years served by 1/26 of the "Trustee per annum honoraria plus the average annual per diem honoraria" prevailing at the end of such service. The maximum amount payable to any individual shall not exceed one-half of the total Trustee per annum honoraria plus the average annual per diem honoraria amount. A year of service as a Trustee may only be counted once in any calculation of deferred remuneration.

14. The Administration will conduct and present to Board periodic remuneration surveys to compare the Trustee's total remuneration package to remuneration packages provided to other publicly elected officials in Alberta.

• Trustee remuneration is paid bi-weekly by direct deposit and a pay advisory is sent to Trustees with the Friday packages containing Transmittal Memorandums and Board meeting agendas.

• Trustee remuneration for performing their duties as members of the Board will be determined from time to time by a majority vote on motions presented to a public meeting of the Board.

• September 1, 2008 Average Weekly Earnings Index increase in Alberta from previous calendar year (i.e., January 1st to December 31st 2007 over the same period in 2006).

• September 1, 2009 Average Weekly Earnings Index increase in Alberta from previous calendar year (i.e., January 1st to December 31st 2008 over the same period in 2007).

• September 1, 2010 Average Weekly Earnings Index increase in Alberta from previous calendar year (i.e., January 1st to December 31st 2009 over the same period in 2008).

• $130.26 effective September 1, 2009
• $134.06 effective September 1, 2010

• Group insurance coverage spans a period of three years, while a Trustee holds elected office. This period is usually from November 1 of the election year until October 31 of the next election year.

• To be eligible for enrollment in the benefit plans offered by ASEBP, the Trustee must be under age 65 when elected. If a Trustee turns 65 during his or her term of office, ASEBP benefits coverage will be maintained until the end of that term.

• All eligible Trustees, including re-elected Trustees, must either enroll or waive coverage in the group insurance plans within 31 days following the first organizational meeting of the school Board after the election or by-election. If Trustees choose to enroll in group insurance plans after 31 days, they will apply as late applicants and coverage may be denied or limited.