School Board Candidates

Ward 3

 

JOYCE BAZANT

Should I be re-elected, one of my main objectives will be to continue working for an ‘equitable’ education for all students in the Golden Hills School Division.  

I am strongly committed to providing educational opportunities for children.  This is why I have run for School Trustee and also seek re-election for 2010.

I am convinced that the work I do as a school trustee is very important as School Boards exist for children. In addressing matters related to their mandate, School Trustees must at all times be the children’s advocate.  First and foremost, educational policies must be judged on what is best for the development of the whole child; both educationally and physically.  I strongly believe Trusteeship means being partners with parents in ensuring that children, our greatest natural resource, are provided with the highest quality education to enable them to become not only well-rounded citizens but to help our children decide what road their life should take.

School Trustees do not represent any one school, neighbourhood, or community.  Rather, when elected, School Trustees make decisions based on the needs of the entire school division.  My role as a School Trustee is to ensure the Golden Hills School Division provides an education that equips our children to succeed as tomorrow’s citizens in whatever career choice the children make.

 

JANET BOLINGER

My name is Janet Bolinger and I am running for the position of school trustee for the town of Strathmore.  Many of you know me as the director of the Gleichen & District Community Choir, a position I have enjoyed for 30 years.

I have always been passionate about education.  Before beginning our family, I taught at Gleichen. In 1980, I became a school trustee for this system, serving 14 years over a period of 23 years.

As a trustee, you are representative of all students in the school system.  An open door to listen to concerns and transparency of the school system are essential. Integrity and honesty from all educational stakeholders are also vital or what values are given to the students, our future, who are molded in these formative years.  The best school system has parents, teachers, educational leaders and trustees working together to do what is best for children.

With the many issues that have arisen within the Golden Hills School Division, I realize an experienced voice is necessary if we are to continue a valued education system. 

I welcome hearing your concerns or comments and can be reached at 403 934-3636.  Please exercise your right to vote on October 18.

 

LARRY TUCKER

Was unavailable as of press time.

 

 

WARD 5

 

COREY FISHER

My family moved to Hussar in 1976 when I was in grade two. I still live in Hussar with my wife, Michelle and our two children Mikayla and Keenan. I have volunteered as a coach for both Junior and Senior High volleyball teams.  For the past 15 years I have been a member of the Hussar Volunteer Fire Department and am currently the Fire Chief.  A position I have held for the past two years.

I served as a Trustee for one term with the Golden Hills School Division.  I am familiar with board policy and procedure.  Recently, I was invited by the Alberta School Boards Association to participate in a summit on Public Involvement in Public Education.

This greatly interests me because approximately two thirds of the adult population do not have children in the school system.  I feel school boards need to do a better job engaging the public.  Boards need to involve citizens in program development, use mutually agreeable two way communication, and share decision making and responsibility for decisions.

We need to clearly communicate with the public – the owners of the system –the success stories of our schools, what changes must be made and what these changes will mean for students and parents.

 

ROBERT MCKAY

I’m running for re-election as trustee in the newly created Ward 5 in GHSD. My wife Carol and I have resided in the Standard area since 2001, on a farm we have owned since 1991. Before this we lived at the Calgary Stampede Ranch where I was manager for 29 years.

While living at the CS Ranch I served on the Berry Creek School Board for 13 years, nine of those as board chair. During that time our children attended a rural school that had three rooms with nine grades, so I’m familiar with the challenges of rural education.

My work with young people has included coaching minor hockey from 1974-2000 and supporting the High School Rodeo program. I am presently a director of the Strathmore Agricultural Society and a member of the Heritage Rodeo Committee.

The area I seek to represent is large – all of Wheatland County south of Township Road 270 excluding the town of Strathmore. Rural education is about students, teachers, programs and communities that care. I believe it is important for students that communities having a school presence maintain one, especially for the younger children in K-6.

It’s important that all students receive the best education opportunities possible regardless of where they reside or which schools they attend and will work to that end.

 

SHELLY NEAL

My husband Clay, children, Layne-7, Corbin-4 and Alanna-1 and I live in my hometown of Rockyford close to our family farm. Over the past several years I have been very involved in learning about education in Alberta. Throughout this process I have learned that there are several things that can be changed within the GHSD to improve the education that our children are receiving.

The Board of Trustees need to increase communication with stakeholders.  We need to ‘put the public back into public education’. This includes being open with current and future plans and creating achievable short and long term goals and communicating these effectively to the public. Parents, staff and community members need to be comfortable in communicating their ideas and concerns to the board of trustees and administration and know that they are being heard and listened to.

Board discussions and decisions need to be made in public and completely transparent. This means no more in camera meetings before the public board meeting.  All votes should be publicly recorded.

I would like to see more parent involvement in our schools. School Councils should include both parents and community members and I would like them to see them more actively involved in school and division decisions such as budgeting and school and division education plans.

Currently GHSD funds schools based solely on student number.  I would like to see funding changed to program based funding so that every child within the division has an equal opportunity to learn in a safe and caring environment. This would ensure that schools are properly staffed and that the all teachers have access to the same resources. Proper staffing of every school needs to be made a priority and program based funding would achieve this.