Listening to the community, being inclusive of all students and all learners, managing the school board’s finances, and support for sexual orientation and gender identity policies – these were among broad themes and questions at a North Vancouver district school trustee all-candidates meeting last Thursday evening.
With only one incumbent running for the four District of North Vancouver school trustee spots, six candidates laid out their platform and philosophy on education and the role of school boards in front of a crowd of about 70 people at Norgate Elementary.
Kulvir Mann, who said she’s attended all board meetings over the past year, said public education must be inclusive and have proper support for each child.
“Educational opportunities, mental health, social and emotional well-being are the key things that every child deserves to have when they come to school,” Mann said, adding that the school district needs to create and develop well-informed citizens. In discussion about the responsibilities of trustees, Mann said the “single most important thing is to advocate for every child.”
“The budget should reflect the needs of all students in the district,” she added.
George Tsiakos, a lawyer and a librarian, said the public education system’s role is to “make sure our students, our children, become informed citizens, they have the life skills they need to be successful no matter what challenges they are presented with.” In addition, trustees need to ensure schools have the services and resources so students can reach their full potential regardless of their background and learning style, he added.
“At the end of the day, they’re our future and they’re the reason why we have good education,” Tsiakos said.
“We accept everybody; it doesn’t matter who you are, doesn’t matter where you come from, we accept everyone – that is important because that is how our society is,” said Cyndi Gerlach, the only incumbent running in North Vancouver district.
Gerlach said her role as a trustee is to connect with the community, families, teachers, support staff and to bring that to the board table and “make sure everyone’s voice is heard.”
In a following question, Gerlach pointed out the board’s most important function is to pass a balanced budget, with a reminder that boards can be fired for not complying.
“It’s something we’re mandated to do,” she said.
Behl Evangelista said, coming from the Philippines, Canadians are “lucky” to have the education system they have. He added that his role as a trustee is to provide the best education, but not just academically, but also emotionally.
“Academics is not always the centre of learning – yes, we do need that, but sometimes we need other things,” Evangelista said.
Cam Small, who said he hasn’t attended any board meetings because of his work schedule, pointed out that teachers are at the front line in education with the trustees in support roles for the system. “As trustees, you’re behind the scenes, your responsibility is to make sure everybody gets heard, the parents, maintaining the relationship between various union bodies, non-union bodies, and at the same time ensure the students and the staff have the necessities they need for success,” he said. Later, he pointed out that the responsibility of the trustees is to make sure there is local input into the budget, of which only 10 per cent is “discretionary.”
Norman Farrell, who also said he hasn’t attended any board meetings but follows the information through online board minutes, said the school district’s role is to support all students, those with special needs, those with behavioural difficulties as well as gifted students by providing the right leadership. “Board members are not in the school providing the actual education, but we can ensure the leadership within the schools is appropriate,” he said.
Farrell said one role of trustees is to lobby the provincial government “because they control so much.” But something the school district could do is use school properties to provide before and after school care, he added.
In response to a direct question, all candidates at the forum stated their support for SOGI, the sexual orientation and gender identity policy toolkit developed by the provincial government.
In another yes/no query, the moderator asked whether candidates would consider selling excess school sites. All candidates except one said “no;” Small said he is “philosophically open to the idea.”
One of the questions to the candidates was what their priority was for allocating funds – how they would advocate for money being spent in the classroom versus money being spent on management.
Farrell said the district isn’t “over-burdened by the $5 million of the $184-million budget that goes to management, but if given the choice, he’d rather money went to the classroom instead of the board office.
Mann said some teachers spend their own money for supplies, field trips and resources, and PACs need to raise money for different needs, something that is easier for some schools. “Some schools are haves and some schools are have-nots,” Mann said, adding the board should work with senior staff to get resources to students.
Gerlach said about three per cent of the budget goes to administration and that the North Vancouver school district fits into the same spending category as other same-sized school districts. She added the school district needs the work that the senior staff does; for example, human resources and support for principals and vice-principals.
The final question to candidates asked what skill set they would bring to the board table.
Small said he’s willing to ask the tough questions even though it can get him in trouble. Farrell said his strength is financial analysis.
Mann said she’s caring, respectful, works as a team player and listens to all perspectives.
Tsiakos said his professional training has taught him to have all information necessary to make decisions and to asks hard questions.
Gerlach said she’s an outside-the-box thinker, sees the big picture, is a problem-solver and “investigator by nature” who does her own homework on issues.
Evangelista said he likes to listen and with his experience as a radio host in the Filipino community, he can reach out and ask questions.
There are eight candidates running for North Vancouver district trustee spots. District of North Vancouver residents can vote for four trustee candidates while city of North Vancouver residents vote for three, and those elected make up the seven-member North Vancouver board of education.
