1. What is your age and occupation? Do you have children in School District 57? If so, what are their ages and what school(s) do they attend?
I'm 41, a mother of two children, a girl in Grade 2 at Ecole College Heights and a boy in preschool. My most recent full-time work was as a computer mapper for an archaeological consultant.
2. What qualifications do you possess that would help you in your duties as a trustee?
I'm an active parent at my daughter's school, and I volunteer with the potter's guild. There are many educators and students in my extended family, and I have a solid understanding of the issues facing our schools. I have pursued fairness and common sense policy in every job and situation I've encountered. I am willing to ask tough questions and challenge the ideas of others, including the government as it seeks to reform the education system. I dislike the use of buzzwords, and will speak plainly about issues in our school district.
3. Do you see room for improvement in how school board meetings are conducted? If so, how would you improve them?
As a parent who participated in the school closure meetings in 2010, it became clear that the processes used by our school board were dysfunctional. Trustees were put in a position of listening but not responding, and had to work with a plan that had little flexibility. The input was stored up for use at single "right-sizing" public board meeting - it was a recipe for conflict and exclusion. Students, parents, teachers, the Regional District, even principals felt left out or stonewalled during the planning process, and were told that "bigger is better." Choice programs were slated for disintegration, previous sustainability plans were ignored, and prior district spending was not under scrutiny. Rural communities were told there was no plan now but they would look at solutions down the road. Other districts like Kamloops managed to make agreeable cuts by changing their plan during consultation. It is not every year that this district will make those kinds of cuts to schools and programs, but we need a new culture at the board office if we don't want a repeat. An inclusive climate will help address the issues and begin to heal the rift between teachers and management on technology, goal-setting, and professional development.
4. In what ways could the school district and the provincial government better spend existing funds for education?
Over two short weeks in 2010 I was part of a group of teachers and parents that put together the "More with Less Report" suggesting 45 ways the school district could save money, improve delivery of programs, and green up to reduce carbon taxes. This report received some press and commendation from the minister of education, but very few of the recommendations received follow-up. Imagine what a creative, dedicated board could do in two months or two years with the help of its partner groups? Two key challenges will be pushing for a better funding formula for rural schools and ensuring that special needs funding does not get lost in the system..
5.. What is the most pressing issue the new school board will have to address?
There are many issues facing our school board, I've explained some on my website http://trusteecooke.blogspot.com. If I had to pick just one it would be the need for a more open and accountable relationship between the school board office and the teachers, students, parents, and community.
