IT WAS ASKED OF ME TO ANSWER THE KAMLOOPS THOMPSON TEACHERS ASSOCIATION QUESTIONS. I THOUGHT THE ANSWERS MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO ALL: QUESTION 1 Please provide a short biography outlining your main goals in running for trustee. Growing up in West Vancouver, I graduated from Simon Fraser University with a BA in General Studies, with minors in Political Science and English. My work in the private sector included years in Vancouver, Whistler and Banff before moving to Blue River and purchasing a general store in 2005. I had a child in 2007, and really focused on helping my family, business and community to prosper. With this increasing desire to see my community prosper, I ran for office in 2011, for the Thompson Nicola Regional District, Area B, and won against the incumbent. I was elected Vice Chair of the TNRD after running for the position in 2013. Since then I have run and won positions on the Union of BC Municipalities provincial Board, and the Southern Interior Local Government Association regional board. My goal as a Trustee would be to meet with all of my communities, teachers and citizens to find out what we want for our schools and children, and how we want to move forward with those goals. I have learned a lot and continue to learn and produce results that benefit Blue River, Avola and the North Thompson Valley as a whole. QUESTION 2 What do you believe is the most serious problem facing School District #73 students today? As a trustee, what would be your role in solving this problem?For schools not in Clearwater, I believe it is inattention. That schools in Vavenby and Blue River are often without proper support because it is somewhat difficult logistically to address the teachers needs. So decisions are often made about what is easiest, not best for the teacher working or the children attending the school. I also think that proper internet connectivity is a huge problem in the North Thompson. A lack real speeds and reasonable prices available to all of our communities affect our children most. This lack of broadband capacity reduces the learning opportunities available to our children, and it becomes a case of the more receiving more (in Kamloops) and the least falling behind. Our world is becoming more connected and we depend on that connectivity to access all of the innovations that are available. Without proper technology, teaching tools or even internet in our communities, our children lag behind in learning and experience. QUESTION 3 Do you believe public education is adequately funded? No. I would love to be able to choose to spend more money on our children across the Province; however, I know that governments are often stuck between a rock and a hard place. If we want more money for education, we have to find funding or reduce spending in other areas. School Districts are not allowed to make those kinds of financial decisions, they cannot raise taxes, and they cannot deficit spend. They are given funds per student,the salary budget and then told to manage the rest and they probably have very strict guidelines about how to spend that remainder. I know from being a Director at the TNRD, I have a have a limited scope of being able to make choices about how money is spent and even if I would like to sidestep the rules, it is illegal to do so. Recently I was able to find a limited amount of money to spend on our local park In Blue River. It took three years of asking and a lot of legal pondering, but miracles do happen. I believe that the best way we can increase funding where necessary is through advocacy. Decisions regarding funding are not made at the local level. It is in having conversations with the Province that we can change future spending in the field of education. QUESTION 4 Explain your position on the restoration of class size and composition language to\our Provincial Collective agreement, as mandated by the BC Supreme Court 2014 decision? I support a Canadian Citizens right to contract which is the foundation of our justice system in Civil Law. I disagree with our Provincial Governments decision to tear up contracts that they signed. I know that the latest appeal from the Government was just heard by the BC Supreme Court in mid October and that the decision is pending. I am concerned about class size and composition. I do believe that attention must be given to class size and the lack of support in the classroom is a concern and should be addressed. Action in this area is critical to the educational needs and social development of all children. How this is addressed by the province in terms of financing needs further investigation and advocacy. QUESTION 5 Do you support compensating teachers for the extra work they provided by returning to class on September 19, prior to the first day of class? I am not sure what to think on this issue. If this question is in regards to the Coquitlam School District issue, and the teachers in School District 73 are concerned about their pay and they do have a legal case, then it is up to the Union to defend their members. Perhaps further investigation by Trustees and the Superintendent should occur to ensure that the contract has been adhered to. QUESTION 6 What would you do as a trustee to ensure a working relationship with teachers employed in our district? I want to meet with teachers, have reasonable conversations, be honest about my limitations, and to treat teachers with respect. I dont like to have an us and them attitude about any person or group even when things are difficult. Communication is the key. The caveat to the conversation is legal matters. Legally, a Trustee may be hamstrung as to what they can and cannot say and do. I would be a fool to circumvent that and thus be of no benefit to anyone. Thank you.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 02:22:37 +0000
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