The legal scuffle over Trinity Christian School’s pulled funding from the province has brought to light several documents that suggest the school might have been breaking rules as far back as the 90s.
The school is accused of using public funds to build the Wisdom Homeschooling building, as well as on parties, babysitting and gift cards. Private schools are not allowed to spend public money on capital projects. The funds are meant to cover part of a student’s enrolment fees.
One document presented in court dates all the way back to September of 1997. It is a letter from Alberta Education to the most senior employee at Trinity Christian that reads in-part, “It appears your school is reluctant to comply with all of Alberta Education’s regulations.”
Another letter from 2004 was presented as well. ““It is evident that Alberta Learning funding has been used for purposes not permitted by the funding manual and AISI [Alberta Initiative for School Improvement] guidelines. More specifically, the purchase of the Wisdom Center building and some of the listed AISI equipment should not have been purchased with Alberta Learning funding.”
Further warnings were issued in 2014 and 15. Exactly why no action was taken until Trinity Christian was stripped of its accreditation in October remains unknown.