“The government has put a lot of restrictions in place for trustees. I can tell you that it is my intention to sit in on school council meetings (assuming the principal will allow me to attend) I want to know what parents are worried about what they believe is working and what isn’t working.I know some of what happens on the inside of the board because I worked in the administration building for 27 years.”

Why do you want to be a school board trustee?

I want to help parents be and stay informed

What’s your background and experience, and how do you think that’s relevant to the job?

Worked for the school board for 27 years

How do you see your role as a trustee? What are your main responsibilities?

My focus will be on open communication with parents. I am also concerned with the Board vs Government accountability

Like many governments and boards, school trustees are facing a budget crunch. Without an increase in provincial funding, how do propose to ensure that your board balances student needs with fiscal prudence?

The Ford government as of this year placed a lot of restrictions on trustees and I don’t believe as a trustee I will have any influence on budget issues

We can pose the questions but we will not have any voting power on budget decisions

How will you support teachers and education workers as they begin contract negotiations this fall? How will you support parents concerned about labour disruption?

Honest communication will be key for parents

The Ford Government has also restricted the trustee’s role in matters of negotiation settlements

Guelph is a rapidly growing town, how will you ensure that the school system is able to grow and accommodate the new students and the changing demographics?

To be honest as a trustee I won’t be able to that

Certainly I will bring forward to the Board any concerns that I hear from parents

Absenteeism seems to be a growing problem in Ontario high schools, what are the ways that you can support teachers and administrators to assure that students are getting the proper instruction?

I am unsure if this is a question pertaining to student absenteeism or staff absenteeism

Both are a very serious problem and one that has been escalating over the last several years. The provincial government has developed a new strategy for this year concerning secondary school students. Time will tell how effective it will be

School safety is a big concern, from behavioural issues to school resource officers. How can schools be safe places for learning while also not making it feel like kids are learning in a security state?

School safety for both students and staff is a very serious problem and I don’t think it has been given enough attention. Everyone parents,staff,unions,school boards and the government need to address this and get on the same page with real solutions. Incidents of violence and bullying have been out of control for far too long and we are going to need some strong people with resolve to tackle it

If you get elected to be a trustee, and considering the increase in provincial influence, do you think you will serve a full four year term?

Of course. The only thing I can say with certainty is that if I don’t try and more importantly if we collectively ( parents, educational staff, administrators, unions, government) do nothing than nothing will change. Education is not moving in a positive direction right now and we need to have some honest dialogue about that. Tough questions need to be asked and honest answers not politically correct answers need to be given

Let’s say I don’t have kids, and thus no proverbial “skin in the game” when it comes to my local school, why should I care about who’s my school board trustee?

Our young people are our future. They will be the ones that we will be relying on when we are older

It is up to us to give them all the knowledge and tools that they will need to face a very challenging future

Is there anything else you want to tell voters as they make their decision?

Some people will think that my answers are vague

I have not been in a trustee role so I can’t honestly say how things will work out. The government has put a lot of restrictions in place for trustees. I can tell you that it is my intention to sit in on school council meetings (assuming the principal will allow me to attend) I want to know what parents are worried about what they believe is working and what isn’t working.I know some of what happens on the inside of the board because I worked in the administration building for 27 years. Tough questions need to be asked and I hope I get the opportunity to ask them