TWELVE school trustee candidates captivated a packed crowd at Sutherland secondary for an all-candidates debate Wednesday night in anticipation of the Nov. 19 election.
Five candidates are running for four District of North Vancouver slots while seven City of North candidates are vying for three trustee positions.
The seven winners will serve together on the North Vancouver Board of Education.
District incumbent Franci Stratton said the next three years could fulfill the promise of the last term.
"During my time as board chair we developed a 10-year plan for the school district," she said, calling the next term the time when that plan should come to life.
City candidate Chris Dorias, who served on the board between 2002 and 2008, called the 10-year plan an "apple pie document," and said the board needed a more reciprocal relationship with the community.
"We really dropped the ball in this community," he said. Stratton stressed equity for all, including struggling families and vulnerable students.
The comment rankled Dorias, who took issue with the implementation of new program fees in the last term. "I don't see that supporting a system that is equitable for all," he said.
City incumbent Susan Skinner listed "transparency, respect and meaningful consultation" as the most important attributes of a school board.
Skinner said the board had been insensitive to community concerns. "We need to learn to listen a little bit better. We've been insular," she said.
Creative solutions may be necessary due to budget constraints, according to Skinner. "We have competing funding issues for health and education," she said. "It can't be business as usual."
City candidate Lisa Bayne, who said she would have a child in the education system until 2027, also suggested the board investigate sharing accommodations. Problems such as a school without a stage could be solved locally, according to Bayne.
"Let's make some friends, let's talk to a theatre group," she suggested.
District incumbent Barry Forward, whose supporters included members of his girls soccer team adorned with pro-Forward face paint and T-shirts bearing his likeness, said the board faced a financial shortfall affecting programs for gifted students and extra classroom help for special needs children.
"This is all about funding. We need to get more money into our classrooms," he said.
District candidate Cyndi Gerlach said the problem went deeper than funding. "Currently, teachers leaving university do not have special education training." Gerlach said as many as 30 per cent of students in some classrooms had special needs.
On the subject of gifted students, city incumbent Mary Tasi said providing separate programs was crucial. "An art class once a month is not going to cut it," she said, listing "alternative school" as a good option.
City candidate Ian Young earmarked French Immersion and the International Baccalaureate programs for growth. "I think these programs absolutely need to be expanded," he said.
Young, a recent university graduate and the youngest trustee candidate, referenced his youth in his opening remarks. "It's this fresh perspective I'm hoping to bring to the school board," he said.
Touting "the Binion opinion," district candidate Norm Binion said he was not beholden to big business, a political party, or a union. "I'm not chained to any masters," he said.
Binion listed his chief qualification as the ability to advocate for increased funding at all levels of government. "I know all the players," he said.
City hopeful Christie Sacré cited her eight years on the Ridgeway Parents Advisory Council as her primary qualification. Sacré said some private schools fills gaps left in the public system, such as inadequate help for dyslexic students.
"We need to apply these skills to stop the flow of students leaving the district," Gerlach said on the subject of private schools.
Tasi said the board should look at borrowing cost-saving techniques from private schools, including having parents help with playground supervision.
All the trustee candidates agreed that selling land owned by the board should only be done under exceptional circumstances.
"Perhaps we could use these properties for much needed fields," Sacré said.
City candidate John Harvey said the fact he's retired would allow him to be a more dedicated trustee. "I can assist with any daytime problems you may have," he said.
Asked about possible school closures, Harvey said he would look for alternatives. "Instead of closing, perhaps we could have one school for children with special needs," he said.
District candidate Mike McGraw said the current curriculum was failing to meet the needs of students. "We live in a world where our educations system was designed 100 years ago," he said.
His call for modernization was echoed by Skinner. "There's massive change upon us," she said.
Sacré and Forward agreed that teachers should not be fined for reducing their workload as part of the ongoing labour struggle between the B.C. Teachers Federation and the provincial government. "In my children's schools, (the teachers) are doing their jobs, they're just not doing it the way the government wants," Sacré said.
