SCHOOL DISTRICT 57 (PRINCE GEORGE) BOARD CANDIDATES

Betty Bekkering

I have lived and worked in Prince George for 29 years. I am retired from the College of New Caledonia as a cooperative education coordinator and I am asking the citizens of Prince George to return me as a trustee for a second term on the School District 57 Board. I was a trustee for the term of 2011-2014. Someone was watching over me and my spouse after the last election because it was the very best time for me to be the full-time caregiver for my spouse and for me to recover from major surgery. I am back in good physical health. I loved my term on the board and feel strongly that education is the key to solving many of the world’s problems such as poverty, tolerance and climate change, to name a few. B.C.’s new curriculum recently introduced is producing a generation of problem solvers, critical thinkers and team players. I look forward to their innovations and ideas. The school district’s strategic plan adopted in 2016 is very much in line with the new curriculum and is promoting the values of building confidence, being inclusive, using a dynamic approach of experiential learning, being open and providing equitable access. I am such an advocate for experiential learning. My job as a co-op coordinator reinforced over and over to me how important “hands on” learning is to success. The teachers of SD 57 are exemplary. They have a can-do attitude and have embraced the new curriculum. I have the skills to be a good board member, i.e. able to express my views clearly, am always prepared for board and committee meetings and keep the needs of the school district a priority. My slogan for this campaign is “Students First.” I will keep that in mind through all my deliberations as a trustee.

Tim Bennett

It has been an honour to serve School District 57 over the past seven years. Thank you for putting your trust in me. I am running for another term because I am still passionate about public education and still have work to do. I am the current board chair, a director with the B.C. School Trustee Association, long serving executive director with Big Brothers Big Sisters, husband and father of two. The next board is going to have a lot on its plate. It is going to have to find a solution to address the catchment and capacity issues being faced in the district. It is going to need to quickly model a new funding formula and determine how it will impact our students. If there are negative implications, we need to quickly respond to government. We need to ensure a fair and successful bargaining process with both our teachers and support staff. We need to support our staff, students and parents through the final implementation of new curriculum, and while all this is happening we need to focus on improving student achievement outcomes. I have the experience and expertise to help lead the district and will continue to be a champion for our students and our community. My priorities for the next four years include remaining accessible, available and accountable. I want to see additional supports and resources for all students by investing more of our unappropriated surplus. I will ensure a safe and inclusive learning and working environment, and ensure the district is doing a better job communicating with our parents and the community. If you want to learn more you can visit www.timbennett.ca or find me on Facebook or Twitter. I hope to have earned your support on Oct. 20.

Trent Derrick

I am a local businessman, owner of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and

Spa of the North. I have over 25 years of leadership experience in the private, public and non-profit sectors. I believe service to the community is one of the most important task we can do in building a better future. I do believe that a strong public education system is key to building a strong future for our children and grandchildren. The decisions we make today regarding their education will have a lasting on impact on the direction of their futures. I am committed to making access to all services and supports for all students. I am committed to making sure we have enough support staff, utilize technology to the fullest and make sure teachers have all the tools they need in the classroom. I also believe in supporting food programs for all students. More than 20 per cent of children live under the poverty line and do not have nutritious meals. It is proven that kids who have nutritious meals learn better and act out less. Kids need to have nutrition in their diets in order to be able to learn. I will fully support the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Indigenous students currently graduate at about 50 per cent. Over the last 10 years, this figure has stagnated. Indigenous students are the fastest growing demographic in the education system and changes need to be made to improve their graduation rates. I am fully committed to building a safe and inclusive learning environment for all student regardless of race, social economic status, sexuality and location. My experience in bringing together stakeholders together to find creative solutions to complex problems will be an asset to School District 57.

Sarah Holland

I am passionate about the importance of the public education system in our democratic society, and the role that our school system plays in helping all our children acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to contribute to a healthy community.

In 2010, the school that my children attended was closed and I realized the importance of the district to individual schools and students. I volunteered at the district level, and as chair of the district parent advisory council, I helped represent parent views on issues such as capacity, student time to eat lunch, safety, financial hardship, bullying, and much more. My qualifications for the job of trustee include:

• years of experience with the school system, having participated in committees such as policy and governance, budget, education services, and more commitment to public education;

• strong financial background, to help make decisions on the $165 million budget;

• respectful working relationship with the partner groups of the district

• familiar with policy and procedures, having attended most board meetings over the past seven years.

Some of the things I’d like to work on as a trustee are:

• proactively planning for student numbers, so that students aren’t turned away from school or faced with crowded schools;

• the right of each unique learner to access the resources and supports they need for success;

• working together, because success in education needs a team approach.

• using facts and data to make well thought out decisions;

• a commitment to transparency - it’s important that people be able to see and trust the decisionmaking process;

• school code of conduct, and anti-bullying policies and supports for students - making sure these policies are understandable, coherent, and effective in communicating the rights and responsibilities of our students, programs for anti-bullying and supports, and building strong communities;

• recruitment and retention for employees.

Trudy Klassen

Hello, I am Trudy Klassen and this is my first time running for a position on the school board. It is exciting to see many new candidates running as well. I look forward to working with all the trustees, including those from Mackenzie and Mount Robson, and to working collaboratively with SD57 staff to improve student success for all students in our district. Voting for school trustees is important because student success depends on good decisions. Trustees set policy and manage a budget which is larger than the City of Prince George’s. Trustees also make long-term plans for the district. These decisions should reflect the priorities of parents, residents, post-secondary institutions and our employers in order to best meet the needs of students. You don’t need to be an educator to know what schools need: each voter has their own valuable perspective, so please vote on Oct. 20.“Student Success through parent engagement is my main goal. Since parental engagement is the single biggest factor in student success, let’s work to improve where we can have the most impact. Teachers know how important parents are to a student’s success, the Ministry of Education says they know it, so I will be advocating this, and looking at every policy, budget, and planning decision, that comes my way, and ask: “How will this improve parental engagement and therefore student success?” I grew up in a tiny homesteading conservative Mennonite community in northern Alberta where I attended a public school. I saw the school administration try to deal with low student attendance by implementing various programs to appease the most conservative members. These ideas didn’t work. What worked was engaging the parents, year after year, as people deserving of respect, building on their shared values, and giving parents a voice in their children’s education. Vote for a trustee that has time to listen and engage, vote for Trudy Klassen.

Allan Krantz

My name is Allan Kranz and I am running for school trustee in School District 57. I have taught at the University of Northern British Columbia for more than 17 years as the senior lab instructor for computer science and I love what I do. I have also run my own business in Prince George for the last 20 years. Born in Trail and raised in the Kootenays, I worked many different jobs, spent two years at Selkirk College and 10 years in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves as a field engineer. I came to Prince George in the 1980s as a professional diver to work in the pulp mills. I am an outdoor person with a love of fishing and hunting. I am married and my wife and I have raised three children here in Prince George. I chose to run for school trustee because it is time to give back to my community. I have teaching experience from UNBC and planning experience from running my own business. I believe that comprehensive long term planning is the best way to deal with many issues that face the school district. One of my concerns is better use of technology where appropriate. Ongoing training in the good use of and improvement of technology is something I would support. Another is that parents have the primary responsibility for the sexual education of their children. Building relationships with organizations that produce teachers in Canada will make recruiting new teachers easier and simpler. The new ward system for School District 57 will require comprehensive communication and cooperation between school trustees in order to work smoothly. There are few things more important than a good education. I am passionate about not just teaching but excellent teaching. I hope to have your support when you choose your school trustees.

Stephanie Mikalishen-Deol

I want to provide safe and quality learning and equal opportunity for every student in our district. I was raised in a family who believes in serving the community. This has been the driving force for my 10-year career with the YMCA and my leadership as president to the B.C. Camps Association; but I know that there is more work to be done for our children and youth, and this is my opportunity to leverage this experience for meaningful change. During my time with the Y, I have worked with many youth programs, initiatives and events, including YMCA Camp Kanannaq, the YMCA Aurora Leadership Program, YMCA Beyond the Bell, the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, Foundry Prince George, National Child Day, YMCA Healthy Kids Day, the YMCA Road Race and Colour Run, the Fun City Sliders and most recently the Movie in the Park. I will bring my wealth of career experience including leadership, consensus-based decision making, capital budgets, fiscal and community accountability, managing change, policy development, ethical behaviour, and transparent communication. I am also keeping a commitment to green campaigning. I believe that the amount of money spent on municipal campaigns would be much better spent directly funding youth programs and notfor-profits. Thus I am committed to self-financing my campaign, keeping my costs minimal. In addition, I will not be using any signage in my campaign. Instead, I will be using social media and the web. My husband and I are making charitable donations to local youth organizations instead of signage. Learn more about me and my platform at www.stephaniemikalishendeol.com, on Facebook at Stephanie Mikalishen-Deol for School District 57 Trustee, on Twitter at @StephanieMDeol and on Instagram at @StephanieMikDeol.

Ron Polillo

Hi, my name is Ron Polillo and I have put my name forward to be a school trustee in School District 57. I have been on the air in Prince George for 25 years and I’m the program director of 99.3 The Drive and 101.3 The River. I’m the proud father of two teenage girls, Sophia in Grade 11 at Duchess Park and Lauren in Grade 9 at DP Todd. I’m asking for your support on Oct. 20. Many people have asked me why I’m running and the answer is simple. Education has been important to my success and I know how important it will be for my daughters’ success. I have dedicated countless hours of my time to youth in Prince George and I believe every student has the right to a quality education. My campaign has been built on three main pillars – capacity, catchment and classroom. It’s no secret that School District 57 has several schools near or over capacity and along with catchments are the two biggest issues facing us today. They need to be addressed immediately. With accurate information, consultation and the support of staff, parents and students, we can find Prince George solutions to these challenges.

My last pillar is classroom and that includes teachers, students, support staff and curriculum. I would fully support our teachers, educational assistants and staff so they can help our students to successful learning outcomes. This includes our rural schools, Aboriginal programs and students with special needs.

I will be passionate advocate for our district to secure proper funding. We need to lobby the Ministry of Education, cabinet ministers and local MLAs to ensure this happens. We have a huge district with diverse needs and that has to be acknowledged and supported by the provincial government.

I have been a strong community advocate for the past 25 years and I believe my diverse skillset, leadership abilities and hardworking team approach would make me a great choice for school trustee. I thank you for being engaged voters and I look forward to discussing the issues with you.

Corey Walker

My name is Corey Walker and I’m running for school trustee. I’m the northern regional coordinator for Autism BC and an autistic self-advocate. After hearing from parents that the schools aren’t supporting their kids enough, I decided to run, so that I can make a difference in the lives of our kids. I have lived in Prince George since 1986 and have completed most of my schooling here, including my BA from UNBC. I also have extensive classroom volunteer experience. If elected, one of my top priorities is to work with our employees and their unions, to bring in more training for our school staff, so they can better support all students in their learning. I also want to change district policies, so that parents may bring in the community experts who help support their children, into the classroom and meetings to support, but not replace district staff. I also want to address bullying. In recent weeks, we have heard of teenage suicides. These students were bullied so bad, they felt their life wasn’t worth living. This is horrible, and we need to do more. One of my proposals is to establish an antibullying task force, consisting of school staff, parents and students. This task force will consult with all education stakeholders, including parents and students, and will research what has worked in other jurisdictions. I feel that a fully representative task force will come up with better solutions than the board and administration can on their own. Our district is facing recruitment challenges. Again, I feel that by having a committee consisting of all voices, including parents and teachers, we can come up with creative, effective recruitment solutions, so that we can address our staffing shortfall, thereby ensuring we can meet the needs of all our students.

Sharel Warrington

Over the past 13 years, I have valued the faith placed in me to fulfill my responsibilities as a member of SD57 board of education.

In seeking re-election, I offer my experience and my commitment to continue to serve our students, our employees and our communities. As chair of the board from 2011 to 2014, I introduced five new trustees to the work of the board. I currently chair the management and Finance committee and serve as the board’s representative on the B.C. School Trustee Association’s Provincial Council. Over the years, I have provided leadership to boards of education throughout the province in my work as the chair of BCSTA Education Committee and as the Northern Interior Branch Education Representative. It has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to support the work of trustees across the province.

I believe a board must work as a united team committed to collaboration and responsible leadership. It must focus on supporting an inclusive learning environment and on building positive working relationships as it addresses the district’s goals of learning, engagement opportunity and sustainability. Strong committed voices are needed to listen, to advocate and to encourage community engagement. Understanding the complexities of our district is critical when addressing the needs of our students, our schools, our employees and our communities.

Our district has a solid foundation to build upon. There are opportunities and challenges ahead. There is work to be done. On Oct. 20, I ask for your support to allow me to continue this important work of building on our district’s strengths and ensuring equity of educational opportunities, programs and services for all students and all schools.

Bruce Wiebe

I am seeking re-election as a School District 57 trustee, having sat on the Board of Education for the last four years. My focus on the ABC’s of Achieving, Believing, Caring remains strong.

I have dedicated my life to education working as an educator for 35 years. I was a teacher at Blackburn, Vanway and Malapina Elementary Schools and a school principal at Dunster, McBride Centennial, Hixon, Nukko Lake, Malaspina and Vanway Elementary Schools. I was also the zone principal for 16 years in various zones which gave me a clear understanding of the needs of elementary and secondary schools. My three children went through the Prince George SD57 public education system in both remote and city locations. In addition, my four oldest grandchildren currently attend SD57 schools.

I know the people, the operations, the logistics, decentralized budgeting procedures, and the organization. I know the challenges and the opportunities for our students in our public schools, both rural and urban. I know the importance of taking a balanced approach.

We have a lot of hard-working, dedicated people in the classroom who need support with their classroom learning places. They face the challenge of having many diverse learning needs. I want all students to have the best learning opportunities that we as parents and educators can provide to our children.

I believe I have a responsibility to help our school district work together with students, parents and educators to continue to grow student success.

I believe that good leadership, accountability, proven experience and caring about children and their success are important values for a trustee. I believe my skill set focuses on direct support for all students and providing teachers and educational assistants opportunities to meet the learning needs of their students.

Thank you for voting Bruce Wiebe for school trustee.