Importance of the Trustee Elections

On behalf of CAPSC Executive, I submitted the following as a letter to the editor at the Herald:

Trustee Elections

This civic election will be part of a critical turning point for the new CBE board of trustees.

Our educational system is experiencing transformational change. At the provincial level, the Education Minister is opening up the School Act. Locally, the Calgary Board of Education, with a budget of just over $1B, makes decisions that impact over 100,000 students, 9,000 employees, the local community and economy. All of this is taking place in challenging economic times.

At a recent meeting of our membership, outgoing Trustee Gordon Dirks spoke directly to the heart of the matter. “The word ‘trustee’ focuses on trust – we are holding in trust the education of children, the resources that will help educate those children, the importance of public education as a vehicle to serve the wider interests of the community at large. It is an important and pivotal role.”

We need to learn more about the candidates we choose to support. CAPSC is working hard to facilitate engagement and to make information readily available. We are non-partisan and do not endorse candidates. Attend any one of our forums or check out candidates on their websites, Facebook, and Twitter. If you have the time, send them an email or better yet give them a call. Before you cast a vote, find out their values, their vision for public education and their understanding of the issues. Our kids and the public school system deserve nothing less.

Leslie Newton, Co-President
Calgary Association of Parents and School Councils
http://www.capsc.ca/