School trustees received no payment for their services until 1946 when provincial legislation allowed urban school districts to pay trustees four dollars for every meeting they attended. This was raised in 1959 to twenty-five dollars per meeting to a maximum of $1,800 per annum. One third of school trustees’ salaries is tax-free.

In 1986 public school trustees were paid about $12,000 a year; the board chairman received about $16,000.

In 1989 the base salary rose to $15,874 for trustees, $18,519 for the vice-chairman and $21,165 for the chairman.

In 1991 Edmonton public school trustees voted themselves a seven percent increase over two years. Trustees’ salaries jumped 3.5% to $16,430 retroactive to November 1, 1990, while the chairman received $21,906 and vice-chairman $19,168. On November 1, 1991 board members got additional 3.5%; trustees now earn $17,000 while the Chair earns $22,667 and Vice-chair gets $19,833.

In addition, board members receive "$81 per session (morning, afternoon, or evening) to a daily maximum of $243 for regular committee meetings, conference committee meetings that are not regularly scheduled, and for Alberta School Boards Association meetings.

(There is also) a fund that hasn’t been publicly disclosed to reimburse trustees for travel expenses." (Source: Edmonton Journal, January 29, 1994, p. G1; Edmonton Examiner, February 17, 1991)

As posted in the EPSB Web Site.

Annual Honoraria and Non-Accountable Expense Allowance

• The annual honoraria covers all activities required of trustees for example, the regularly scheduled meetings of the board, committees of the board, and board hosted functions.
• The non-accountable, non-taxable, expense allowance comprises one-third of the annual remuneration of trustees. It covers incidental expenses that trustees may be expected to incur in carrying out their responsibilities including travel to and from regular meetings of the board.
• The remuneration for the board chairman is equivalent to the remuneration of a trustee plus an additional one-third of that remuneration.
• The remuneration for the board vice-chairman is equivalent to the remuneration of a trustee plus one-half the additional remuneration provided for the board chairman. The remuneration for the conference committee chairman is equivalent to the remuneration of the board vice-chairman (October 29, 1997).
• The annual honorarium and non-taxable expense allowance for trustees of the Edmonton Public School Board were adjusted effective April 1, 1994. The rates are as follows:

Attendance Per Diem Allowances

An attendance per diem is remuneration for trustee attendance at:

• Special meetings of the board and committees of the whole held in addition to those regularly scheduled and at which all trustees are expected to attend.
• Budget sub-committee meetings and results review sub-committee meetings (October 29, 1997)
• The annual meetings of the Public School Boards Association of Alberta, and the Alberta School Boards Association
• Either the annual meeting of the Canadian School Boards' Association or the Canadian Education Association but not both in a given year.

Effective September 1, 1997, the attendance per diem allowance is $80.00 per morning, afternoon or evening session to a maximum of $240.00. Remuneration for attendance at out of town Association meetings includes one additional day's honorarium allowance per conference for travel to and from the meeting. Trustees receive an evening session per diem allowance for attendance at out-of-town association meetings at which they are required to stay overnight.

In 1986 Catholic school trustees were paid about $10,000; the board chairman received $12,500.

In 1990 "each Catholic trustee is paid $11,034 a year to carry out his duties, while the chairman gets $13,791. They are also paid $75 for a partial day and $150 for a full day’s attendance at provincial trustee association executive and committee meetings, civic committee meetings and other board committee meetings." (Edmonton Journal, October 17, 1990, p. B3)

In 1994 trustees received $11,437, the Vice-chair $12,000 and the Chair $15,000. Board members also received "$155 a day for essentially all meetings except regularly scheduled board meetings, including committee meetings, board meetings, and Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association meetings. (There is also) a travel allowance of up to $4,000 a year." (Source: Edmonton Journal, January 29, 1994, p. G1)

In 1998 Catholic trustees earned a base honorarium of $12,888 with the chairman earning an extra $3,000." They also receive a per diem allowance when they are representing the district on official business, and are compensated for expenses. The remuneration figures for 1997-1998 were:

David MacDougall $30,521

Brian Mitchell (Chairman) $26,931

Ron Patsula $31,288

Mary-Anne Razzolini $24,634

Michael Savaryn $29,044

Jim Urlacher $32,687

Ron Zapisocki $31,804

Source: Edmonton Examiner, September 18, 1998, p. 320

THE EDMONTON CATHOLIC REGIONAL DIVISION No. 40. POLICY ON TRUSTEE REMUNERATION AND EXPENSE. (Abridged. As of October 16, 1998)

The Edmonton Separate School Division provides a program of remuneration to trustees consisting of the following:

• Honorarium for services provided.

• Non accountable expense allowance in respect of expenses that the trustees may be expected to incur to carry out responsibilities required of all trustees (i.e. attendance at Board meetings or specific committee meetings).
• Specific reimbursement for expenses that the trustees may incur to carry out other responsibilities that they agree to undertake separately (i.e. attendance at a national or provincial board meeting).

Effective April 1, 1994 the following will apply with respect to the payment of trustee remuneration and expenses:

A. Honoraria and non accountable expense allowance

Individual trustees, at their own expense, will be permitted to participate in a Group

Benefit Package. Trustees are eligible to access the division benefit package at the

commencement of their term only.

B. Attendance honoraria

Attendance honoraria shall be paid at the rate of $73.00 per partial day.

Non eligible for claim

• Regularly scheduled conference and public board meetings
• Meetings attended where honoraria are paid by other organizations
• School functions, school meetings, School Advisory Council meetings, graduations, award programs
• Meetings, conventions, and conferences called in Edmonton by the Board itself or its staff
• Retirement banquets of employee groups

• Committee of the whole board, e.g.,
• ACSTA Board of Directors or executive meetings and related committee meetings
• ASBA Board of Directors or executive meetings and related committee meetings
• Civic committees
• Committees of the board to which trustees are assigned

C. Interpretation Committee

3. Professional development for trustees

An allocation of $4,000.00 per year will be allowed each trustee for the purpose of attending conferences and conventions. This $4,000.00 is to cover all expenses related to conferences (including travel, hotel, registration fee, meals, attendance honoraria, materials, etc.)and may be averaged over the three year term, but terminates by the end of the third year of office. The Board Chairperson will be allocated an additional $500.00 for the year he/she is serving in that capacity.

4. Division paid conferences

• Annual conventions of ASBA
• ACSTA annual convention

Choice of two of the following:

• ACSTA spring conference
• Blueprints
• Spice

• ASBA new trustees orientation
• Extraordinary events/conferences, meetings as approved by the board prior to participation

Attendance honoraria for all conferences and conventions shall be paid at the rate of $73.00 per partial day including travel time.