In your opinion what is the most critical issue facing the school board at this time and how do you plan on addressing it?
In my nine years as a trustee I have seen a serious shift in the funding of public education. Resources have become more scarce, schools require upgrades, teachers need to be supported in classrooms and parents need to believe that their tax dollars are contributing to optimal learning in their classrooms. But that is not what we are seeing in 2014.
I believe that the lack of sustainable and predictable funding is the most critical issue facing Boards today – By not knowing from one year to the next, what funding will be available to serve students, trustees find it difficult to ensure that we can continue to provide the supporting resources for students.
The Ministry has new expectations for How and What students learn, but if we cannot count on consistent long term funding for planning and implementing new programs we will not be able to prepare are students for the future. Our students and staff deserve to have learning and teaching environments that have all that they need to be positive and effective. Parents need to know that the Boards’ will have the resources needed to support students. Government needs to recognize that dollars invested in education are critical to moving ahead.
We will continue to address this issue by, working with other districts, and our provincial association to insist on accountability from the Government and the provision of predictable funding. Working with our educational partners in engaging the broader community as to the importance of a rich fully funded public education system.
I have been an outspoken critic over the lack of funding along with our board, we will continue to work with all of our provincial educational partners in advocating for a strongly funded system that supports and meets the needs of all students.