Decreased funding support and advocating for public education were key issues Powell River residents enquired about at an all-candidates forum for Powell River Board of Education school trustees.
About 60 people attended the forum sponsored by Peak Publishing, held in Max Cameron Theatre at Brooks Secondary School on Thursday, November 6.
Moderator Steve Formosa, current trustee who is not running for re-election, introduced the candidates running for five trustee seats: incumbents Mary James, Jeanette Scott, Doug Skinner and Aaron Reid, along with Ashley Hull, Cynthia Barnes, Frank Schmidt, Lauren Exter, Maureen Mason and Kevin Dodd. Candidate Ted Cooper was not available for the evening forum.
Candidates were given two minutes each to present their platforms and opening remarks. Peak publisher Joyce Carlson read a statement prepared by Cooper.
The question answering part of the forum was split into two parts. In the first, each candidate was asked a question from either the audience or a bank of questions prepared by Peak Publishing. Candidates were given two wild cards which they could use to also answer another candidate’s question. In the second part, the audience was encouraged to ask a question to a specific candidate.
Audience members asked a range of questions on topics that included: class size and composition, the success of specialized programs to attract students from outside Powell River, how the board of education could counteract declining enrolment and fewer education dollars from the provincial government, and the role of technology in the classroom.
On the issue of class composition, James was asked whether it was an issue for the district and board. She responded that it was, and it is something the board continues to work on to address.
She added that she has met with district teachers who have told her of their frustrations trying to meet all their students’ diverse needs and not having the resources to do so.
All candidates recognized the need for creative solutions to the district’s funding challenges.
When asked about the potential for business partnerships with the district to shore up funding decreases, Scott responded she does not see any place for corporate sponsorships in public education.
Scott suggested that innovative programs like Powell River Digital Film School is one example of how the board has sought to shore up district declining enrolment.
Mason said that while the BC School Trustees’ Association and boards of education around the province have lobbied hard to have more money directed to public education, ultimately it was in the hands of voters in the next provincial government to choose a government which would increase support.
Schmidt, whose platform includes pursuing an increased enrolment in tuition-paying foreign students to stem the shortfalls, said he still had not ruled out the impact boards of education could have lobbying government.
Incumbent candidates all said that despite funding challenges, the Powell River board had been successful in keeping community schools open. Both Reid and Skinner touched on the importance of continuing the fight with BC Ferries to provide free travel for the district’s young athletes.
Hull said she would like to see the district’s community schools move in a direction akin to James Thomson Elementary School with its Eco-French Immersion program to attract new students.
Exter, a former manager of JP Dallos Middle School’s information technology department, said he thinks that technology in the classroom should be the tool, not the focus, of learning and teaching.
Asked about how the district could improve helping students with special needs, Dodd said he thought that quicker and earlier student assessments could help. Barnes added that smaller class sizes could allow teachers to spend more time with students who need more help.
More information about the candidates running for board of education is available online on Your Vote Matters. The Weekend Shopper, November 7, had a special candidate guide section. Video re-runs of candidate forums for this week’s election are available online.
