On October 3 I had the privilege of speaking with the public
at a forum organized by Laurier Heights Parent Advisory Council (and they did a
phenomenal job at it, by the way). It
was an evening rich in questions and diversity, with great opportunity to
engage you, the voters, in what matters to you as you choose your next school
trustee. You are my hiring committee and
I appreciated the interview!
I was able to articulate three key factors that will
influence my leadership should I be elected to this position:
1. I will follow in the footsteps of good work
2. I will follow with a critical eye toward what we
can do better
3. I will expect you, the
voters/parents/grandparents/community members to engage in the process of
advocacy for our children.
I will follow in the
footsteps of good work
Predecessors of this position, Christopher Spencer and Sue
Huff, have worked tirelessly to ensure a new era of communication and
collaboration with government. I
commented at the forum my disagreement with a statement that advocacy to-date
has been “all
asks” relative to the School Closure Moratorium Committee. I think the previous board has done amazingly
well to establish a relationship with the government of Alberta that is
reciprocal, and with the best interests of students at its heart. While this
relationship is never easy, I do think that the board has forged ground that
will allow the new trustees to effect change to the betterment of our students,
teachers, and classrooms within Edmonton Public Schools.
More importantly though, issues of inclusion were discussed at length at this forum, and I’m so
grateful that they were! I was able to
articulate my firm belief that if there is a policy as sound and effective as
the no-bullying policy, and its extention to the LGBTQ students in our schools
specifically, then that is simply a policy that must be implemented. PERIOD.
I am grateful for the opportunity to formally (and informally in
conversations afterward) to articulate my deep conviction to this awesome
policy.
I will follow with a
critical eye toward what we can do better
The forum audience raised questions about school closures: a matter near and dear to my heart. I participated in the Sector Review Process,
so I know how debilitating and disheartening process can be in relation to
school closures. I know from
conversations with other parents in that time in my role as chairperson of a
school council that we can do better!
There were suggestions in that process that emerged from parents as
alternatives to school closures that I don’t think that the board has
investigated, or at least not fully investigated. I also think that now is the time to be fully
open as a board to all aspects in our budget:
the money that we have available to us must match what the board has
skillfully named as priorities for
our district. In my experience as an
entrepreneur and as a former Corporate Director of a multi-decision unit
company I have deep concerns over the anticipated spike in absenteeism and the
costs (human and financial) associated with that. Additionally, there are budget items that,
despite hours of inquiry as a private citizen, are still unclear to me. There are clearly many avenues of
conversation about cost-saving and cost-sharing that simply must be explored.
Communication with
the public and policy implementation
are two additional ways that the board can work better. While communication with government has
deepened, I’m certain that we can do better at communicating with the
public. In terms of policy
implementation, I was present at the board meeting when a former Physics
teacher from Ross Sheppard spoke about
the lack of implementation of the boards policy on Student Assessment, Achievement and
Growth which allows teachers to
issue zeroes. Why is that? Why are board policies not being
followed? This is the critical eye that
I bring to the board as a parent and as a citizen now, and expect the trustee
to bring as well.
I will expect you,
the voters/parents/grandparents/community members to engage in the process of
advocacy for our children.
It won’t work without you, though! I have been part of a small group of concerned
parents and active citizens who have asked questions of our elected
officials. This has been hard work, but
it is also PIVOTAL to the success of democracy.
I KNOW that your voice, your
opinion, your input has power. I know
this because a small group of communicative and vocal parents helped strengthen the
motion for changes to our utilization measure to incorporate child wraparound
services as utilized space.
I am so grateful that I was able to articulate to the forum
audience that I expect them (and you!) to be engaged in the process. Ask me questions! Talk to me about how policies are, or are
not, being lived out in your schools. Attend meetings in person or online, be on
Alberta Education conference calls, talk to your school councils and community
league boards, talk with your MLA, support initiatives for a super-board
collaboration between schools, or any other way to make your voice heard. For I deeply value the power of grassroots
communities voicing their vision, their hopes, their concerns, and their
wisdom.
It was such a rich evening!
I can’t wait to meet more of you at the North Glenora Community League on
October 16 from 7-9 PM.
