Alberta Education has shut down Trinity Christian School Association in Cold Lake, effective immediately, after an audit found they were funnelling public money to a third party.
The government says the private school “has not met the standard of accountability required by the Government of Alberta,” and concludes that the private school was re-directing its public funding to another company by the name of Wisdom Home Schooling Society.
“Issues include conflict of interest involving senior management and related-party transactions, including terms of employment contracts and terms of leases with related parties,” a press release from Alberta Education reads. “Inappropriate expenses were also found for such things as babysitting and funeral expenses as well as “double dipping” of mileage. The review also uncovered that Wisdom – which is not the grant recipient – had retained $988,000 in unclaimed parent funding over the past three years.”
“Our government is committed to supporting Alberta’s students and to ensuring that as much public funding as possible is being directed to the classroom,” said Education Minister David Eggen, “whether that classroom is in a home or in a bricks-and-mortar school. The decision to cancel accreditation and registration for Trinity Christian School Association was made out of respect for taxpayers and the many families who entrusted this school to properly account for the funding granted for the purposes of their children’s education.”