Skip to content

North Vancouver school board

* Incumbents

NAME

Christie Sacré

Susan Skinner*

Franci Stratton*

Mary Tasi*

Ian T. Young

AGE

54

23

52

44

47

OCCUPATION?

Chief administrative offi cer and chair of the board of education

Design and management consultant

Payroll and benefi ts administrator for a North Vancouver company

Executive director, nonprofi t

Student

NUMBER OF CHILDREN?

One

None

Three

Three

Four

ARE YOU A MEMBER OF ANY POLITICAL PARTY(IES)?

No answer provided

No

No answer provided

B.C. Liberal Party

None

HAVE YOU RECEIVED UNION SPONSORSHIP?

No

No

Yes

No

No

ARE YOU SOLICITING UNION SPONSORSHIP?

No

No

No

No

No

DO YOU LIVE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT YOU SEEK TO REPRESENT?

16 years

Five years

22 years

15+ years

14 years

WHAT HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU HOLD?

Honours degree in environmental studies/ urban planning, University of Waterloo

BA, University of British Columbia

BA, University of British Columbia

BA, Simon Fraser University

Sociology and communications, Capilano University

WHAT PAC EXPERIENCE HAVE YOU HAD?

I have worked with PACs over the years assisting in various events as needed.

I have never served on a PAC as I have never been a parent.

School PACs 19 years, NV District PAC 16 years, chair/co-chair fi ve terms.

Eight years on Ridgeway PAC; two years as PAC president.

PAC member 11 years; school planning council; PAC executive three years; NVPAC executive district associate.

INCUMBENT: HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU SERVED ON THE BOARD?

Three years.

Three years.

Six years.

NON-INCUMBENT: BOARD MEETINGS ATTENDED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS?

None

Two or three.

HAS THE DISTRICT DONE ENOUGH TO INVOLVE PARENTS IN MAKING DECISIONS?

Every school has a parent council (PAC) and further we have the district parent council whose input is requested at all our stakeholder meetings.

Parents are invited to participate and to be heard during consultations, but of course there is always room for more involvement from the community.

As key partners, parents through NVPAC, PAC, SPC, standing committees, public forums and surveys have provided input that is invaluable to the decision-making process.

There is always room for better communication but if a parent wants to get involved, they can: PAC or SPC, public board meetings, school district website.

Increasing efforts at involving parents requires a welcoming culture that respects differences, values parent contributions and is committed to service, listening and bringing people together.

DO YOU SUPPORT FURTHER EXPANSION OF PROGRAMS OF CHOICE SUCH AS IB OR ACADEMIES?

It is imperative that there are choices for families. IB and academies are two ways of providing an alternate learning environment and different challenges.

I support expanding programs that respond to students' interests. Ensuring program viability and student success requires determining our budget, teacher, administrator and community partner capacity.

The expansion of academies and the IB program allows students more engagement with their education. It serves to personalize learning and make it more meaningful.

As chair of the Towards the Future of Schools Committee, I am committed to supporting innovative programming that supports our students.

Yes, we need to balance quality with expanded choice. One of the goals in the strategic plan is to develop and promote innovative and sustainable programs.

WHY DO WE NEED A SCHOOL BOARD WHEN SO MUCH IS DICTATED BY THE PROVINCE?

School boards have elected local representation that understands the unique and authentic elements of the community, whose members have access to trustees on a daily basis.

A school board helps to better serve students' needs. The community must have a voice to shape the policies and education of their children.

As a local school board, through careful fi scal management, we address the unique needs of our community when we respond to ministry directives.

The board is the voice of the school district and should have a better idea of how to allocate money than the provincial government.

Trustees ensure North Vancouver's voice is heard in the legislature. We provide awareness and ensure support for the unique needs and accomplishments of our students.

DO YOU SUPPORT LONGER DAYS AND A SHORTER SCHOOL CALENDAR TO REDUCE COSTS?

The current model is outdated. I am supportive of multiple short terms interspersed with free time.

We must be careful not to harm the education of students when cutting costs.

To date, the board has successfully achieved cost pressures through other means.

The extra day of school is more benefi cial for learning. I would like to look at alternatives.

Impact on student achievement, staff and families must be our primary consideration in calendar deliberations.

YOUR WEBSITE?

www.stratton4school trustee.com

See Facebook: VoteYoungonNovember19th

www.christiesacre.com

www.susanskinner.org

ALL-CANDIDATES' MEETINGS

An error occurred in the listings of allcandidates meetings in our Nov. 6 issue. A listing appeared in the paper that included a reference to a $20 admission fee. The election meetings we promote in the paper are free and this inappropriate listing should not have been included. We apologize to the other City of North Vancouver council candidates for this error.

An All-candidates' Meeting for West Vancouver will be hosted by the Seniors' Activity Centre advisory board, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2: 30 p.m. at the Seniors' Activity Centre, 695 21st St.

A School Trustees Candidates' Meeting will be hosted by the North Vancouver parent advisory council Wednesday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m. at Sutherland secondary, 1860 Sutherland Ave. Info: Dave at dwhitehead@northvanpac.org.

An All-candidates' Meeting for the City of North Vancouver will be hosted by the North Vancouver Civic Association of Iranian Canadians Saturday, Nov. 12, 3-5 p.m. at Silver Harbour Centre, 144 East 22nd St. Info: Paria Saremi, www.civicactivist.com, nv.civicic@gmail. com, info@civicactivist.com or 604-961-8371.

An All-candidates' Meeting for the District of North Vancouver will be hosted by the EcoUrbia Network, North Shore Table Matters Network and the Edible Garden Project Saturday, Nov. 12, 2-3: 30 p.m. at Lynn Valley library, 1277 Lynn Valley Rd. The topic will be future directions for urban agriculture and sustainable food systems. Info: www.ecourbia. org or dwhitehead@northvanpac.org.

A Mayor and Councillors Candidates' Meeting for the District of North Vancouver will be hosted by the Seymour Community Association, Blueridge Community Association, Parkgate Community Services Association and Mount Seymour United Church Monday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m. at Mount Seymour United Church, 1200 Parkgate Ave. Info: Lorraine Harvey, 604-929-7957 or Eric Andersen, 6049296849.

An All-candidates' Meeting for the City of North Vancouver business sector and commercial property owners will be hosted by the Lower Lonsdale Business Association Tuesday, Nov. 15, 6 p.m. at Le Bistro Chez Michel, 224 West Esplanade. RSVP: alvaro. peralta.b@cfib.ca or 778-340-2131.

A Mayoralty Candidates' Debate for the City and District of North Vancouver will be hosted by the North Shore News Tuesday, Nov. 15, 7-9 p.m. at The Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier, 138 Victory Ship Way.

A Mayor and Councillors Candidates' Meeting for the District of North Vancouver will be hosted by Edgemont and Upper Capilano Community Association Wednesday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m. at Highlands United Church, 3255 Edgemont Blvd. Info: James Walsh, 604-988-6318.

A Mayor and Councillors Candidates' Meeting for the District of North Vancouver will be hosted by the Association of Woodcroft Councils Thursday, Nov. 17, 7 p.m. in the Capilano Room, Capilano Building, 2024 Fullerton Ave. Info: Val Moller, 604-926-8063.

Please send details of election/candidates meetings to editor@nsnews.com.