On Oct. 20, Prince George residents will pick one mayor, eight councillors and five school trustees. The ballot will have two mayoral candidates, 13 councillor candidates and 11 school trustee candidates. There are also 15 candidates running in the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.
PrinceGeorgeMatters has sent out a list of questions to those vying for a seat in public office.
Knocking on doors, meeting new people; campaining for #sd57 #bcelection2018 #schooltrustee is fun!
— Trudy Klassen (@trudy_klassen) September 12, 2018
Name: Trudy Klassen
Running for: School trustee
Age: 49
Number of years lived in Prince George: 24
Current neighbourhood: Salmon Valley
Occupation: Mom of six, previous business owner, community volunteer and part-time admin work
Reason community would recognize your name: Various volunteer roles and through my children (six of them and only one of me), as well as my advocacy for the release of the report on rural education.
What is the most important issue facing the School District 57, and how do you propose to deal with it?
Student success.
The most important aspect of this is increasing parent engagement. Parents need to feel welcome regardless of their socio-economic status and I will work hard to find ways to eliminate barriers in the form of fees for things like graduation ceremonies, lab coats for chemistry, and textbook deposits.
Each student needs to be assisted to succeed as best they can, utilizing whatever methods work, in consultation with parents and teachers. Children only have one shot at school, and we need to make sure we don’t fail them.
What is your specific reason for running?
I have the time, interest and skills that suit this role.
Where can the school board spend less?
Difficult to say without having closer access to the books (i.e. how much do we spend on textbooks?) and knowing that so many needs are unmet. I would consult with teachers first, look at changing how we build schools so that we spend less on buildings and more on education, and look at utilizing technology to reduce redundancy and improve education delivery efficiency.
Where should the school board be investing more?
More special education supports for students. (We should) eliminate all financial barriers to school grad ceremonies, arts and sports participation.
Next time you’re walking in the woods and you come face-to-face with a Sasquatch, what do you do?
Take a photo so I can believe I didn’t just imagine it.
If the next school board does something film-worthy, who would play you in the film?
Helen Mirren or Meryl Streep
Complete the sentence...
When I’m not at home or at work, you can find me:...with friends, visiting my family, at the library, shopping for my family, or travelling.
The most random, yet interesting fact about me is: I was married in black
My favourite beverage is: London Fog
For Christmas/Hanukkah/the gift-giving season, I would like:...bookcases and a comfy chair for my library.
The best park in/near to Prince George is: Goodsir Nature Park
If Prince George didn’t exist, I’d be living in:...in Edmonton to be near our grandchildren.
When I need some pump-up music, I listen to: Radioactive by Imagine Dragons.
