Three candidates gunning for two School Board Trustee positions
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Three candidates are vying for two Golden Hills School Division Board of Trustees positions this election cycle.
Of these, Rob Pirie and Jennifer Mertz are incumbent, and Steve Durrell is challenging for a seat for the first time.
The candidate profiles have been arranged in alphabetical order for publication.
Steve Durrell
“There is a lot changing in classrooms right now; they are becoming more complex, teachers have a harder job dealing with those complexities with the tools that they have available,” he said. “I felt that the best way for me to be involved and try to advocate for (my kids’) schools to have the things that they need, and the teachers to have the tools that they require to be able to teach my kids and other kids in the town … would be to get involved in the school board.”
Durrell added he currently has three children enrolled in the Golden Hills School Division, one in each level of education from elementary, junior, and senior high schools.
Among his goals for the board is to be able to provide teachers and classrooms with more resources that do not have to be at the personal expense of the teachers themselves.
“One of the things that I found particularly shocking with this year was (for) a new teacher looking at their classroom, just how little supplies and such as provided for them to be able to do their job effectively,” he said. “A lot of supplies come out of their own pockets, and it is my hope to be able to push the board in a direction where some of those supplies are coming from the board to support them, rather than just the absolute minimum bare bones. Especially for teachers who are just starting up.”
He emphasized he wants to bring a new perspective from a parent to the table, who is ready to talk about the needs of all levels of local education.
Jennifer Mertz
A resident of Strathmore for the last 22 years, and a trustee for the last two terms, Mertz explained she feels she maintains a strong understanding of the position and its requirements.
Her husband also being a local teacher, she added, offers an opportunity for insights into some of the challenges and opportunities being experienced within the local school division.
“As a trustee, I understand my role as an advocate, leader in the organization and strategic partner in getting our initiatives to the finish line. I do not do this work in a silo; trusteeship is a team effort and working together with a shared focus is key to delivering excellence in Golden Hills,” she said. “We are in a tricky time right now with contract renegotiations and the looming strike and I am sure that there will be other new challenges come our way in the next four years that require the collaborative approach of our division, and I look forward to being a part of the solution.”
Mertz described the role of trusteeship as being one that is largely student-focused, with a significant amount of work being done outside the classroom to encourage student success.
Some of her goals for the upcoming term include advocating for more classroom funding that aligns with the unique needs of the division, seeing shovels in the ground for the new Westmount School build, and continuing a relationship with the local government.
She added she, at the core of her campaign and trusteeship, values collaboration, authenticity, and curiosity in order to serve as a local leader and advocate for the division as well as for the students.
Rob Pirie
Pirie emphasized the process required to develop effective leadership, as well as the necessity for trustees to be transparent and accountable to parents, students, and residents within Strathmore.
Having come from a background lacking an emphasis on education, Pirie said growing up, his parents encouraged he and his brother to pursue it, as education would open greater doors for them.
“I believe, as for my brother and I, we want to make sure that door is open for everyone. It should not matter how much money you have, the opportunity should be the same, and I think public education allows opportunities for all,” he said. “We have to make sure that we are accountable, fiscally (responsible), and that we need to make sure that the students are receiving the best product … I believe, and we advocate for more local decision making.”
He added one thing that the school division needs to continue working on is the sharing of information.
More information regarding what is going on within the schools, as well as within the division needs to be pushed out to the parents and community.
“People need to know what is going on at the table … obviously, the big-ticket items, as a trustee I am going to be pushing that we need from the government to increase base spending,” said Pirie.
He intends to advocate for more support from the government for existing classrooms and teachers, not just for growth from the provincial government.
“School divisions are struggling; we have an increasing amount of complexity, but social agencies are experiencing cutbacks, and the funds are being left up to the schools,” he said. “Students deserve every opportunity as every other student and so the government needs to come forward with the funds.”