Peter Coleman is seeking re-election as Comox’s School District 71 trustee.
Three demanding years on the school board have convinced me that though much has been accomplished, much remains to be done.
We now have lengthy contracts in place with both main employee groups. But budget concerns, and careful money management, remain major issues.
Through our provincial association, we continue to press for public education to be given higher priority within the province’s budget.
We have completed a number of important property transactions, including the disposal of the old Brooklyn School.
The site continues to serve educational and community purposes, and we recouped sufficient money for renovations to our other schools, and the replacement of our obsolete IT equipment.
To ensure continued quality programs, we have initiated a regular graduating student/school board meeting, in which trustees hear directly from students about their experiences in the school system. Students report mainly positive reactions.
Students have also benefitted from an Active Travel (to school) Program, an important contribution to student health and fitness, and from a new all-weather playing field at G. P. Vanier School.
Our greatest student successes have been in academic areas.
Our Destination Imagination teams have been successful at every level of competition – including the world championships.
Similarly, our robotics teams have been successful in provincial, national and international competitions.
I hope to be given a new term by the voters, so that my 40 years of experience as a Royal Canadian Navy veteran, as a parent of five public school graduates, and as a teacher and administrator in the K-12 and post-secondary sectors in two provinces, can continue to serve the citizens and students of the Valley.
Peter can be reached at 250 339-1004 or via email at pcoleman@sfu.ca throughout the campaign.