The Citizen asked all 16 school board trustees to fill out a questionnaire on who they are and what they wish for the future of education.
I'm retired from the College of New Caledonia, and currently working part time for the Salvation Army. My children are adults and two of my grandchildren are enrolled in public school in Kamloops.
All of my adult life has been an involvement with the BC Education system both as a volunteer and a professional. I was part a committee that changed the old PTA system of parent involvement to the current PAC system, which allows parents to have more of a role in decision making.
I was the district parent rep. for Vancouver Centre and was the liaison for 24 schools. I worked for 22 years in post secondary. Douglas College in New West and CNC here in Prince George. I was the staff rep on the CNC Board for two years and was the president of the support staff union. I have a well developed package of skills that I can bring to SD 57 board table.
The meetings I have attended have been well run with public presentations scheduled at the beginning of the agenda. There is lots of opportunity for board members to debate. The only criticism I would voice would be the need to limit the amount of times a trustee can enter the queue on the same issue.
It seems that every penny for this current budget year is accounted for. What would be interesting to compare would be the current "bare bones legal budget" with a "need to have budget" and see what the district needs to operate effectively.
I would say that the current Bill 12 that is in second reading in the legislature could have a profound effect on SD 57 and in fact on the whole province. It needs to be on an early agenda for the new board.
