Five candidates for Fort Erie trustee seats
One each to be elected for Niagara public, Catholic boards
The Review asked all the Fort Erie candidates for the District School Board of Niagara and the Niagara Catholic District School Board the same questions. A missing answer means the candidate declined to answer.
PUBLIC BOARD SUSAN JOVANOVIC
Age: 48
Occupation: P/T clerk at Canada Post
Family: Married 20 years, 4 children ages 15-8
Community work: Adult adviser of a youth group, library board, elementary/ high school parent councils, Fort Erie rep PIC (Parent Involvement Committee) with DSBN
Top issue: Too hot in the classrooms
Why are you running? Need more parent/caregiver representation at the trustee level
Why should voters choose you: Familiar with the daily experiences of students, parent/caregivers, and special needs concerns at the individual school up through the board levels. I understand how the various levels of government work and have previously worked successfully with them to improve the community.
Contact info: 289-321-0975, susanjovan@hotmail.com, Fb Susan Jovanovic for Public School Trustee - Fort Erie, Port Colborne
DAVID SCHAUBEL
Age: 63
Occupation: Recently retired as pastor of the Stevensville United Brethren Church, and chaplain for Fort Erie Fire. Prior to that I was self-employed as a certified carpenter
Family: Married to wife Kim for 37 years with 3 children and 4 grandchildren, each of whom have or will be attending DSBN schools
Community work: I have spent 35 years dedicated to youth work and for the past 23 years have worked to support marriage and families.
Top issue: Continue to work as a team in supporting the high level of education DSBN is striving to achieve. We will continue to keep programming to its highest level so children can achieve success.
Why are you running? To continue to be a strong voice in supporting DSBN teachers and students as they deal with the diversity and challenges presented today. I believe as we continue to work together we will provide our communities with strong leadership for the present and future.
Why should voters choose you: I am willing to be a strong voice for students and provide leadership as a team player. I believe my vote does not mean much if I cannot gain the support of my colleagues.
Contact info: 905-380-7874 david.schaubel@sympatico.ca
CATHOLIC BOARD BONNIE DICKSON
Age: 41
Occupation: Registered pharmacy technician
Community work: very involved in committees with the Ontario College of Pharmacists like Opioid Task Force, Cannabis Task Force
Top issue: More educational assistants in the classroom
Why are you running? I have personally seen the system fail a student who needed the resources that were promised but never received. I don't want to see that happen to anyone's child
Why should voters choose you: I will work collaboratively with teachers and families to make sure the budget delivers what students need in our classrooms, which is resources, front line workers and supplies.
Contact info: bonnie.dickson77@gmail.com and Bonnie Dickson for Catholic school board Trustee on Facebook
HEATHER PYKE
Age: 56
Occupation: Director of operations
Family: Widowed mother, Breton Pyke-Day graduate of Niagara Catholic (St Therese, St John Bosco, Lakeshore Catholic)
Community work: Thirteen years school councils, six years Lakeshore rep Parent Involvement Committee, past Niagara director and VP for Ontario Association of Catholic Parents in Education, represented parents at Ministry of Education, Institute for Catholic Education; 12 + yrs volunteer with local initiatives.
Top issue: To ensure money and resources are used in the best interests of all our students while helping refocus the board to provide the best Catholic education with integrity, accountability, fairness and inclusiveness.
Why are you running?: I believe in the value of Catholic education and know how easily it could be taken away. I have the experience, passion and integrity to represent parents and advocate for families, at the board level, to ensure students have successful academic and personal growth experience.
Why should voters choose you?: I will bring the parent voice back to the board with my skills in strategic planning, management and negotiation to refocus its mission while making necessary decisions. I will represent families to ensure decisions are based on what’s best for all children; with no other agenda I will place students’ needs first.
Contact info: heather4trustee@gmail.com
DINO P. SICOLI
Occupation: former teacher, principal for Niagara Catholic District School Board
Family: Lily (wife), two children (Dino Michael, Christina), and David, son-in-law
Community work: Driver for the Canadian Cancer Society, grief recovery work, for St. Patrick Church, Port Colborne, part of a committee that works with our church sponsored Syrian family
Top issue: With like-minded trustees I want to continue to become an agent of change to improve morale, address our high legal fees, countless grievances. I want to work toward solutions for the betterment of Niagara Catholic that I love. Why are you running? Students are first in my books. I wish to be a change agent in working with like-minded trustees to alter the culture of our Niagara Catholic District School Board to one of accountability, transparency within a climate of trust, integrity, honesty and honour.
Why should voters choose you: We are at a critical time in our board’s history. With my background as a former Catholic principal, currently a Catholic trustee, I believe I am the most qualified to address the needs of the system at this time.
Contact info: Email: dpsicoli@bell.net; 905-835-8177