1. What would you do to resolve the teacher’s job action?
2. What can SD 85 do to keep schools open in the face of potential funding cuts?
3. Is SD 85 undercutting private business by renting out a publicly supported property, Robert Scott elementary school?
4. Why should people vote for you?
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1. The obstacle to successful negotiations is local trustees have limited input at the table.
The present system of “them or us” is serving neither teachers nor school boards.
Long term, focus should be on a return to local bargaining.
Short term, trustees need to ensure the employer negotiating team follows their direction in seeking solutions.
2. Again local control has been replaced with a centralized “one fits all” formula for financing our schools. Rural school districts experience greater challenges under this system. Funding needs to provide for basic programs as well as student population.
Key areas we need to reinstate are pre-apprenticeship programs so our students can access some of the potential trades positions resulting from B.C.’s new shipbuilding potential.
3. I wouldn’t consider this as a key question to address re: the needs of students in the district. It is not unreasonable for the district to try to recover costs for maintaining vacant facilities until future use becomes clear. Generally these facilities are utilized buy various community groups which shouldn’t impact on local business. Whatever policy is established should be administered equally throughout the district.
4. My decision to place my name forward for the position of trustee was based on my familiarity with the parents and students of the community, my extensive experience in education and my concern about the continued erosion of local control of our schools. I have taught both elementary and secondary students in regular classroom and special ed. assignments. I have also taught at the university level and served on boards related to teacher qualifications and personnel practices at the local, provincial and national level. One thing that has remained constant in B.C. education is top down changes, imposed on districts by various provincial governments of both political parties. I feel the next three years can have a significant impact on the direction of education in our communities. I believe my background will serve me well in advocating for the students and schools of our district.