Here is a Q & A I did with Public Interest Alberta:
I will advocate for a student representative to attend Board meetings and add a student’s perspective to discussions. A student rep will provide insights that Board members do not possess on contemporary issues relevant to students like cyber bullying and technology usage in schools.
Students need a safe and caring environment to grow to their potential. Reasonable class sizes are very important. With large classes, quiet students and struggling students lose out.
“A teacher’s working conditions are a student’s learning conditions”
Stop piling more work onto staff without taking something away. As a former business owner I know that if I download too much onto my staff productivity went down and this leads to the quality of work going down. Same thing in Education, if you want a quality education for the students do not over burdened the teachers, EA’s and office staff.
Students need a safe and caring environment to grow to their potential. Reasonable class sizes are very important. With large classes, quiet students and struggling students lose out.
Inspiring Education focuses on developing Engaged Thinkers, Ethical Citizens and an Entrepreneurial Spirit. I believe if these 3 pillars are properly designed and implemented they will help prepare our children for the future. The ideas in Inspiring Education are progressive, but the government should not rush through the process of implementing Inspiring Education. Red Deer Public School Board we need to make sure the voices of our Board, superintendent, teachers and parents are not only heard but also have considerable input into the design and implementation.
Use programs like MicroSociety <http://www.microsociety.org> which involves bringing real life to learning.
Students learn by experience. To help improve this experience the District must build more bridges between schools, businesses and the community. How can this be done? Invite businesses and nonprofits like the Food Bank, SPCA, and many others, in to speak to students. Take classes to see businesses and non-profits in action. Work with the Chamber of Commerce.
In 2012 Red Deer Public's 5 year High School Graduation rate was 79.6%. We need to put more supports in place to help all students graduate from High School.
1. What specific steps would you advocate to improve the quality of education?
I will advocate for a student representative to attend Board meetings and add a student’s perspective to discussions. A student rep will provide insights that Board members do not possess on contemporary issues relevant to students like cyber bullying and technology usage in schools.
Students need a safe and caring environment to grow to their potential. Reasonable class sizes are very important. With large classes, quiet students and struggling students lose out.
“A teacher’s working conditions are a student’s learning conditions”
Stop piling more work onto staff without taking something away. As a former business owner I know that if I download too much onto my staff productivity went down and this leads to the quality of work going down. Same thing in Education, if you want a quality education for the students do not over burdened the teachers, EA’s and office staff.
Students need a safe and caring environment to grow to their potential. Reasonable class sizes are very important. With large classes, quiet students and struggling students lose out.
2. What are the main directions we need to take to develop the full potential of all students?
Use programs like MicroSociety <http://www.microsociety.org> which involves bringing real life to learning.
Students learn by experience. To help improve this experience the District must build more bridges between schools, businesses and the community. How can this be done? Invite businesses and nonprofits like the Food Bank, SPCA, and many others, in to speak to students. Take classes to see businesses and non-profits in action. Work with the Chamber of Commerce.
In 2012 Red Deer Public's 5 year High School Graduation rate was 79.6%. We need to put more supports in place to help all students graduate from High School.
Inclusion is a good strategy, but we need to have more supports in place to help students in the classroom. Without Educational Assistants in the classroom the special needs students take up much of the teacher’s time. Teachers and Educational Assistants also need ongoing Professional Development about the learning disabilities they may come across in an inclusive classroom.
The government needs to increase funding to support special needs students in the classroom. Red Deer Public's Bright Start program helps young children build the building blocks they will need in school. We need to continue and build upon programs like this!
School Boards need to be given back the right to set a local education tax rate. Local School Boards know their community. They need to be given the power to respond to local needs. School Boards need to be given back the right to set a local education tax rate.
Continue to talk, and provide examples, to our local M.L.A.'s about the funding crunch in Education. Lobby the Minister of Education about our financial needs.
3. What are the most important changes that need to be made regarding the role of school boards in Alberta?
School Boards need to be given back the right to set a local education tax rate. Local School Boards know their community. They need to be given the power to respond to local needs. School Boards need to be given back the right to set a local education tax rate.
4. How can the school board and you as trustee most effectively influence the financial and policy decisions made by the provincial ministry of education?
Children are our future - we need to provide them with a fully funded education or society will suffer in the long run.
My understanding is that Red Deer Public received a 0% funding increase for this year. There has been an increase of over 200 students into Red Deer Public this year. According to Troy Media the Alberta Consumer price index in May and June, 2013 increased from last year by 2.3%. In July it increased 2.2% The August increase was 1.4%. Education funding is not keeping up with rate of inflation. We need to voice our concerns about the funding levels to the government!
Put more money into the schools and less into other areas like Central Offices.
The minimum increase the government should give the board each year is the rate of inflation plus a dollar amount for the number of new students otherwise it will be hard to maintain the same level of education. Boards need the right to set a local taxation rate for education.
Private firms should not be involved in paying (or in kind donations) for name recognition. I don't mind inviting private firms into schools to talk to students about careers, etc..
If the school is no longer viable, the number of students is projected to continually decline until it does not make sense to keep the school open
5. In light of the current funding situation, what strategies should the board use to meet the needs of students and the community?
6. What changes respecting the funding of education would you advocate for?
The minimum increase the government should give the board each year is the rate of inflation plus a dollar amount for the number of new students otherwise it will be hard to maintain the same level of education. Boards need the right to set a local taxation rate for education.
7. Should the provincial government continue to use Public Private Partnerships (P3s) for building new schools, what guidelines would you propose be placed on P3 contracts?
No, I don't agree with P3 contracts.8. What limitations, if any, should the school board place on the involvement of private firms in schools?
Private firms should not be involved in paying (or in kind donations) for name recognition. I don't mind inviting private firms into schools to talk to students about careers, etc..
9. What reasons, if any, might you vote for the closure of a school?
If the school is no longer viable, the number of students is projected to continually decline until it does not make sense to keep the school open
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