I have time for one more blog post before midnight. After that there is a moratorium on social media, blogging and any electronic campaign work. We can only canvas face to face, make phone calls, wave signs and the like. So tonight, after what was a terrific All Candidates Meeting at John Barsby Community School, I wanted to share with you my answers to the NDTA questionnaire we received a while ago. Because the NDTA sponsored All Candidates Meeting was cancelled due to the power outage, the group organizing this week’s meeting took their questions into account in forming their own.
Trustee questionnaire
1. If elected, what do you see as your primary role?
The primary role of school trustees is to be strong voice for public education. We set policy and set the budget. We must do all we can to ensure that resources are used wisely and supports are directed toward the classroom as much as possible. We must also advocate for more funding to truly meet student needs. We need to work with others in the educational community to create a vision for a strong, vibrant public education system.
2. Describe any experience you have in setting and monitoring large organizational budgets
I have served on multiple non profit boards with large budgets, where service delivery was spread out over a wide region. In some cases, we have bad to lobby government directly due to threats to funding. I have been part of a board that managed to maintain service levels while addressing a deficit we inherited.
3. In SD68, senior management positions have increased by 35% since 2001 while teaching positions have decreased by 17% in this same time frame. Are you satisfied with our district’s current ratio of administration to teachers? If cuts are necessary in the future, would you support cuts to senior administration?
I am not satisfied with the current ratio of teachers to administrators. I believe the first thing we need to do is look at streamlining our administration. We need greater accountability on the issue of administrative spending. We need input from other stakeholders to determine what administrative supports are truly helpful to those working in classrooms. I support cuts in this area to allow for more specialized teachers in schools.
4. What is your position on the restoration in the collective agreement of guaranteed class-size limits, specialist teacher ratios, and provisions for supporting students with special needs
I wholeheartedly support the restoration of of guaranteed class size limits, specialized teacher ratio and supports for special needs students into the collective agreement. These items are vital to ensuring a healthy education system. The loss of funding due to the 2002 contract stripping has decimated the public system. Justice Griffiths ruling is clear. The government has not acted in good faith and must be accountable.
5. What do you believe to be the most pressing problems in our school district?
The most pressing problems in our school district are class size and class composition issues. We need more support for teachers. We also need to create more trust between stakeholders and more collaboration. We need to look at the governance model and make some changes which will allow more transparency and improved communication. We must try to reduce admin costs so we can direct more resources into the classroom.
6. What course of action do school trustees have if the budget does not meet the needs of students?
If funding is inadequate we must lobby the government and strongly advocate for improvements. We must make the public aware of the problems. We need to get the BCSTA working together on funding issues. We can create a needs budget that shows the true cost of education. We may even discuss submitting a deficit budget, but we must make such a move with caution and with full discussion between all stakeholders, given the risks involved.
7. What will you do to ensure that there is regular and meaningful consultation with teacher representatives on matters of education policy and education change in this district?
The best way to ensure regular, meaningful consultation takes places is to ASK the representatives of teachers for input on how to create a better process. That said, we can ensure that our unions have adequate time to look at proposed policy changes, the budget, and other important matters. We can continue to use the Teacher-Trustee Liaison Committee and look for ways to make this group more effective. We must be genuine, transparent and open in dealings with all stakeholders.
8. Given that hiring practice policy has recently been changed, what will you do to ensure that the personnel hiring practices of the school and district-level administrators are ethical, fair, and based on a respect for due process?
I am concerned about the changes in hiring policy. I am not confident in the current model and I believe it can be modified in a way that prevents the Board from micromanaging, while still ensuring proper oversight. I think we need input from the NDTA, CUPE and DPAC to address concerns about the policy. Together we can find a middle ground that ensures proper oversight and ethical practices, without resorting to the Board micromanaging day to day operations.
9. What are your thoughts on the current Liberal education agenda, as expressed by their recent “Blueprint”?
I dislike the plan. On the surface, some parts, like the focus on skills training, have potential. There are flaws, however. It does not address funding needs. The plan makes no reference to class composition or class size. Worst of all, there seems to have been no meaningful input from teachers. Without proper input from those in the classroom the plan will not be effective. We must advocate for improvements to the plan, with teacher input.
I thank all of you who have followed this blog. If elected, I will change this blog’s title and use it as a tool to keep you informed on district/educational issues at least weekly.
