Revelstoke Teachers Association President Jennifer Wolney send a series of questions to candidates standing for election to the School District 19 board of trustees.
Although all five candidates have been acclaimed, their answers are nonetheless instructive.
Here are Jennifer’s questions followed by the candidates’ answers:
Funding
Do you believe that the public education system in Revelstoke in particular, and BC in general, is currently adequately funded? If not, are you prepared to advocate for additional funding for public education? What form will your advocacy take?
Accountability
As an elected official, do you believe that you are primarily accountable to the electorate of Revelstoke or to the Ministry of Education in Victoria? In difficult times, how will you decide your priorities in this respect?
How will you gather feedback from your electorate in order to adequately address the needs of students and staff in Revelstoke?
Public Education
Many people believe that public education in B.C. is under funded. Are you supportive of public education? Why or why not? What are your views on private education and Distance Education Learning in our district and in our province ?
Experience/Knowledge
If the BC government loses the court case in BC Supreme Court regarding class size and composition, would you be supportive of the government appealing to the Supreme Court of Canada? Why or why not? If not, what actions are you prepared to take in order to convince the government to abandon their appeal?
School District #19
Do you feel that the relationship between teachers and the board of school trustees needs to be repaired? If yes, what actions would you take to improve this relationship? If no, why not?
Bill MacFarlane
Funding
I believe the system is underfunded. BC is currently funded $1000 per student less than the Canadian average as compared to other provinces. Trustees need to advocate both locally and provincially with all groups within the education system to ensure that education funding becomes a provincial government priority. This includes making sure the provincial government fully funds the negotiated increase in the recently completed 6 year collective agreement. Trustees need to make their voices heard and not be complicit in any further government cuts to public education. I am prepared to advocate at both the local and provincial levels to ensure that funding is provided to meet the needs of the public education system.
Accountability
I would be accountable to the electorate of Revelstoke. My priorities must reflect the priorities of the community that I represent as a trustee. There needs to be strong local governance with trustees willing to speak out, support and advocate for the education system.
How will you gather feedback from your electorate in order to adequately address the needs of students and staff in Revelstoke?
I would work to develop a culture of collaboration by working with teachers, parents, CUPE, administration, students, other trustees and the community at large to make sure our local priorities are acted upon.
Public Education
I feel that everyone has the right to a free, quality education in the public system. I have worked hard to be an advocate for public education. It is the foundation of a participatory, democratic society. I do not support public funding for private education. Distance Education Learning can be one way of providing services but can’t be a substitute for what goes on everyday in our schools. There are a number of concerns with distance education around teacher workload, working conditions and student completion rates that need to be addressed.
Experience/Knowledge
No, I would not be supportive of the government appealing to the Supreme Court of Canada. The historical legal precedent on this and the very similar HEU case does not support an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. As I remember the provincial government had to pay 85 million dollars to HEU members because of the Supreme Court of Canada ruling in their case. Justice Griffin was very clear when she stated the government acted in an unconstitutional manner and bargained in bad faith. To quote Justice Griffin, she said, “the government expected that the BCPSEA position would be so difficult for the union to accept that the union would take strike action”, and she concluded the government “did not negotiate in good faith.” It is time a mechanism was put in place to implement the two court rulings in this issue.
School District #19
We have, historically, had a good relationship but this has been severely strained by actions of the provincial government both with regards to funding and bargaining. In order to improve the relationship trustees need to be much more assertive in advocating for adequate funding and supporting the collective bargaining rights of all employees. Teachers should have the right (as they once did) to bargaining all working conditions. There needs to be more local bargaining as this would help to promote a stronger relationship between trustees and teachers. Teachers want to have such discussions with their employer. Working together at the bargaining table issues can be resolved in a way that best reflects the local situation.
Alan Chell
Funding
I believe we have worked very hard and successfully to increase the level of funding our Board has received for both operating and capital budgets for our District. We supported staff to serve on the Ministry’s Technical Review Committee to adequately reflect issues of funding in rural and small districts. Our district advocated successfully for funding protection to protect districts experiencing declining enrolment and this has resulted in us receiving millions of additional dollars over the past decade. I will continue to advocate for more money for public education and in particular, for forced budget increases to be funded. Much of our advocacy is done through the BC School Trustees Association and I am currently serving as a director on the BCSTA Board and am able to work on this issue at a provincial level.
Accountability
I am elected by the electorate of Revelstoke and am primarily accountable to them. Having said that, by holding the office of school trustee, one must accept the responsibilities that Boards of Education have under the School Act. I have been a trustee for 30 years and have never felt any reluctance from the electorate to provide me with feedback. I receive phone calls, emails and personal contact from the electorate.
Public Education
I believe the BC Public Education system is one of the finest in the world and I have been proud to be part of it for the past 30 years. In terms of Distance Education, it is one alternative to provide students with a full range of educational programs. I prefer a classroom delivery model and have continually advocated for us to ensure that we protect high school course offerings. Continuing to offer this service requires us to make tough budget decisions but the results mean that at the Grade 11 and 12 level, we offer the courses our students need.
I recognize the right of parents to choose private education for a variety of reasons including religious beliefs and believe that any political party would continue to support that the funding of private education is done through a combination of government and user pay revenue.
Experience/Knowledge
I believe further appeals of court decisions are a given at the provincial level. The BCTF and the Provincial Government recognize the right under the judicial system for either party to go through the full range of appeals and both parties have agreed to abide by the final court decision. Both parties have also committed to interim collective agreement language and a process to negotiate language once the court appeals have been finalized. I would not expect the Board to lobby the government nor would I expect the RTA to lobby the BCTF to give up their judicial rights.
School District #19
I believe that relationships require work and commitment at all times. Currently, this is even more true after the recent labour dispute. I look forward to a period of contractual stability and continuing the excellent work that we are doing in School District #19. I feel that our success is largely based on the strength of the relationships with all involved in education including teachers, administration, CUPE members, parents and all of our many community partner groups that contribute to education in Revelstoke. It would be my intent to rebuild relationships as necessary. I have always been a strong supporter of the teaching profession, always honoured collective agreements and I feel I have demonstrated over my tenure as a School Trustee, at both the local and provincial levels, that I work hard to improve public education in our District and the Province.
Jeff Nicholson
Funding
I think the public education system is not adequately funded in Revelstoke or B.C. in general.
All boards agree on the need for more funding. Also, in talking with teachers on the picket line last September, among the concerns were decreasing funds for supplies, teaching resources, field trips, etc. I believe the most effective advocacy is through the BC School Trustees Association. It is the unified voice of all sixty boards in the province when it takes issues to government. Letters from individual boards have limited effectiveness. Also, our district has benefited hugely from the construction of new schools and attached community amenities (the envy of other boards in the province) and such letters from us could possibly be looked upon negatively.
My personal advocacy is to be involved in provincial elections in support of the party that will make social services a higher priority. I urge all teachers to actively participate in the democratic process, contributing labour and funds to the party you support.
Accountability
Trustees are accountable to both the electorate of Revelstoke and to the Ministry of Education. The citizens of Revelstoke expect the board to hear and respond to their concerns and to provide the best education possible for all of our students with the resources we are given. Elections are the opportunity for the public to pass judgement.
Accountability to the Ministry of Education is to abide by the legislation and regulations, which follow under the BC School Act. Some main obligations are to submit annual achievement contracts, have periodic evaluations by external teams and submit a balanced annual budget. The teacher and support staff unions are represented on the budget committee at its every meeting. The board monitors progress and when consensus is reached on a balanced budget at committee, it is received by the board for approval.
The top priority of the board here has long been to maintain resources to the classroom as much as possible when preparing its budgets.
Feedback from the electorate can be gained through the variety of organizations and committees in the community that trustees belong to, and in casual conversations one has with students, parents, staff and the general public.
Public Education
I am definitely supportive of public education. It is the best way to provide equality of opportunity for people of all economic and social levels. I also think that public education is superior to private schools in preparing children for the “real world”. The government funds private schools at about half of what public schools receive. This has gone on for many years with all governments: the rationale being that private school parents pay education taxes and expect some return, and in this way, the government has some control of the curriculum in these schools. Distance education learning can be useful, but it is much better for students to have a classroom teacher. They receive more personal attention and generally are likely to be better motivated.
Experience/Knowledge
Concerning the court case regarding class size and compensation, my sympathies are with the teachers. However, I think that whichever side wins the current case, the losing side will appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. I think this is probably for the best, as some important principles on limits of government actions can be established for the future. I don’t know of anything that the board could do to affect the course of either party.
School District #19
The relationship between teachers and the board does need to be repaired. Bargaining is a time when the government and the BCTF “play hardball” resulting in hard feelings in the people affected. Now that a contract has been signed, I hope the local board and teachers can eventually return to a normal relationship, which was quite positive in the past.
Personally, I am very sorry for the stress, distraction and financial losses that teachers experienced during this bargaining process. At the same time, I also regret the uncertainties, inconvenience and costs to parents and students.
ELMER RORSTAD
Funding
I do not think the education system in BC is being adequately funded. Obviously the government has other priorities such as balancing the budget and increasing funding for health care. That being said, the Revelstoke Board of Education does lobby for additional funding through our provincial associations, our support of motions at Provincial AGM and through correspondence. I will continue being an advocate for increasing education funding – I have been in support of increased funding the past three years and I do not expect to change my stance in the next four years.
Accountability
As a trustee my goal is to provide the best education possible to the students of Revelstoke. I have always been a good listener and when someone has an educational concern I have brought it up when appropriate to district staff or fellow trustees. Having a child in kindergarten and day care I find myself in various schools and I take the time to visit with teachers and district staff. I hope people take the time to approach me if they have a concern.
I am a believer in our legal system and expect both parties in the dispute to exercise all their avenues before the final decision. I don’t think boards, associations or individuals would have much impact on influencing either side-we have to be patient and let the court case come to its conclusion.
Public Education
I am fully supportive and committed to the public school system.
The Revelstoke Board of Education has an unique partnership with its teachers and district staff. Consultation and participation in preparing the annual budget is a norm, I hope to continue this special relationship we share. Transparency and communications are key to our relationship and the high level of education that we offer in Revelstoke. I am an advocate of providing support for early childhood education and the professional development of teachers and district staff.
Experience/Knowledge
I would like to thank everyone who supported me in the last election; I plan to be much more visible in the future in our schools as I drop one or the other of my two boys to class or daycare.
LESLIE SAVAGE
Below is a response to the request for survey inputs from trustees of the Revelstoke Board of Education:
On October 16th the Revelstoke Teachers’ Association circulated a questionnaire to newly acclaimed members of the Revelstoke School Board. After some consideration, it seems to me it would be premature for me to respond to some of the questions in the survey, thus I must decline for the moment. Here is why:
At present, as a new school trustee, I have not yet met all the trustees on the board, with whom I will be working for the next few years. Additionally, some questions address the recent strike/lockout in B.C.’s K-12 system. As a new board member, I have only third-hand information about details of relations between the Board and the RTA, so cannot respond with any real knowledge base.
The Revelstoke Current recently published statements from all the acclaimed trustees, and I invite any members of higher public or teachers to view my statement online at www.revelstoke current.com.
