We give school trustee candidates their last kick at the can before the election by asking a two-part question: What is the one issue you feel most strongly about in this election, and how can you make a difference to benefit your constituents?
Rachel Allenbrand
A trustee’s main objective is to listen to the community and communicate the community’s values to the board of education to achieve goals for better student achievement.
With lower enrollment throughout the district, funding is always an issue. Trustees spend lots of time focused on issues that come as a result of low funding, as well as finding ways to meet the children’s needs in the consistently changing world, especially in regards to technology, etc.
Yet, I believe that communication with parents, teachers and the town has been lacking.
More than one parent has asked me ‘what is a trustee?’
I believe that this NEEDS to change. I want to see parents become more informed about the issues the school board is dealing with – issues that ultimately may impact our children’s education in both good and negative ways.
With more communication and information I feel that parents will become more active in the schools and the education system.
My goal as trustee would be, to be more of a voice and listening ear within the community, in regards to education.
To keep things simple and understandable, so that as a community we can all help achieve goals for better student achievement.
Cory-lee Mills
Cory-lee Mills
The need for more funding in the education system, although the Government made some increases with the Teacher strike, there are still so many shortfalls that are facing us.
Knowing that we have declining enrolment and that funding has not increased in the past 3 years, makes us aware we have some difficult issues ahead of us.
We need to work as a community in order to maintain an effective current educational system, giving our students the resources to achieve and succeed with their educational goals within our school system.
We also need to ensure we are proactive in taking the educational needs of our district and advocating for them at the provincial level.
How can I make a difference to benefit your constituents?
By building strong mutually respectful community relationships, with clear communication. Relationships not only with the board but with the unions, the town and the greater community, including the other communities within our district.
It takes a village to raise a child and community involvement in education is essential.
The role of trustee is to put the students needs first, bringing the point of view of the parents and the community to the table, and to communicate effectively with all parties involved, thus building a strong foundation for an effective school system we can all be proud of.
Robert Zandee
There are certainly a great number of issues that are facing school boards at the moment, but the one that certainly jumps to the fore is sustained and predictable provincial government funding.
With the development of the new BC Ed Plan, the move towards a 21st century learning environment, and all stakeholder’s desires for greater student learning success, our financial resources which are already limited, will be under increasing pressure to fund increased operational and educational delivery costs.
Learners benefit most from a public education system that is adequately funded and as school trustees, we must continue to advocate the government to commit the resources necessary to support districts who, in turn, are trying to maximize opportunities for our students.
The biggest difference I can make to my constituents is to commit to continuing my advocacy with our local MLA, as well as government through the BC School Trustees Association, to enable our district to provide the widest range of opportunities for our students and to enable them to achieve the success that they deserve.
A well-educated, engaged population is essential to our province’s success and economic prosperity and I look forward to continuing the work we have begun.
