Tell us a bit about yourself and why you are running in this election:
As an educator of 34 years experience, and 57 years living in the Kelowna community, I see this role as trustee as an opportunity to serve our city and community. Our youth are the future, and it is crucial we support them with leadership in public education, fostering their skills and personalities which will allow them to build resilient character and grow into the future adults of Kelowna. As the district budget is provincially controlled, and our province continues to run deficits, we can expect our school resources to become increasingly restricted. My 34 years experience in the class, on the fields and in committees will be a valuable resource in finding areas where efficiencies can be increased, and areas where spending is not producing results for our children.
If you feel comfortable sharing, what is your faith background, religious tradition, or philosophical worldview, for example: Christian, Sikh, Muslim, Jewish, secular, or another worldview?
Our public school system is exactly that. Public, for all.
Central to my faith is the commitment to respect and love my neighbour, to treat others as I would wish to be treated, beyond that my faith does not have a role in the public school system.
How do your personal values shape your leadership, and what are those values?
Treating people as I want to be treated....respectfully, listened to, these values guide my decision process. Coupling these practices with my experience of 34 years in the class and 57 years in Kelowna will foster within the School Board a leadership committed to scholastic and extra curricular success built on hearing what our community wants and values.
How would you balance your personal beliefs with your responsibility to represent all Kelowna residents?
Treating one another with respect while ensuring opportunity for all requires little balancing. All faiths have respect for others as a central tenet, secular society also places high value on respecting others. In a public school system respect needs to be the focus.
What role, if any, do you think City Council should have in setting standards for materials and programming available to minors in city-funded facilities and public libraries?
The City should ensure funding is maintained for access by schools at a reduced cost. Half of the students in public schools will come from average or below average income, as such the community should prioritize lower cost to school children to ensure opportunity and access for all.
What role do you believe parental consent and notification should play when a minor makes personal disclosures or requests support from a school counsellor, and what exceptions, if any, should apply?
Parents need to be informed at all times with the EXCEPTION of situations where the child discloses the parent is the source of the situation.
What ideas do you have to better balance infrastructure and city growth?
The School Trustees must bring discussion to the MLA's of our region, along with dialogue at the BC Association of School Trustees annual meeting. There the BCSTA must advocate to the Ministry of Education or increased capital funding for schools as the city grows.
How would you like to see city spending prioritized?
No Response
What steps would you like to see taken to increase transparency and accountability at City Hall?
No Response
What public safety issues are you seeing in Kelowna, and how do you believe these issues should be addressed?
No Response
What do you think can be done locally to bring down the cost of housing?
No Response
What policies would you support to help stimulate Kelowna’s job market?
No Response
