Tonight at the Prince George Playhouse, the people running for a trustee position on the School District 57 board in the Nov. 19 election will get a chance to state their positions on a number of topics.
The all-candidates forum is open to the public and will run from 7 to 9 p.m.
The 16 candidates will be given the chance to respond to two or three questions posed by the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) and the Prince George District Teachers' Association (PGTDA). If time allows, the candidates will take questions from the audience.
"I think it's terrific we have this many committed people willing to step forward," said Sarah Holland, the interim DPAC chair. "This is by no means and easy job, one that you get a lot of flak from parents and teachers."
The DPAC website at
www.sd57dpac.ca lists trustee responses to a DPAC/PGDTA on-line poll and Holland said the questions asked tonight will be from list.
The DPAC queries were:
1. Why are you running for school trustee?; 2. What is your position on choice of school and programming in School District 57?; and 3. How will you ensure that parents and other education partners are involved in decision-making?
The PGDTA questions were:
1. What specific actions would you take to ensure better classroom composition for the students of School District 57?; 2. How do you plan to advocate for District 57 students even if it means opposing government initiatives?; and, 3. How will you ensure teachers have input in the implementation of 21st century learning initiatives?
A printout of candidates' answers to all of those questions will be available at the door tonight, while quantities last.
DPAC member Dale Laluk will moderate the forum.
"We would love it if people
attend and vote," said Holland.
Four incumbents - Trish Bella, Valentine Crawford, Sharel Warrington and Rhonda White - are running for reelection.
Also in the hunt for a position on the seven-person board are: Elona Arnett, Betty Bekkering, Tim Bennett, Kris Benson, Sharon Bourassa, Andrew Burton, Kate Cooke, Bal Gill, Brenda Hooker, Earl Krushelnicki, Shawn Peters and Don Sabo.
