The Capital News asked the 91大黄鸭 trustees candidates to answer a series of questions about issues facing the Okanagan School District.

Lee-Ann Tiede

Do you feel school board policies reflect the values of Central Okanagan communities?

By policy, I refer to the over 150 documented rules and regulations of our district which cover a wide range of topics such as safety, expenses, responsibilities of our staff, roles of students, transportation, discipline, code of ethics, catchment areas, etc. For the most part, our district鈥檚 policies are in keeping with the expectations and satisfaction of the constituents in our district. We do hear occasional complaints from parents at the board table, which are addressed on a case-by-case basis and are typically in regard to busing, catchment areas and student support in the classroom.

In what way, if any, are parents not given the opportunity to play a role in their child鈥檚 education?

Parents do have a practical forum to weigh in on their child鈥檚 educational content through the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) at their child鈥檚 school, provided that the PAC meetings are well advertised and scheduled to accommodate the busy, hard-working parents of our community. PACs are open to all parents/guardians of children at that school to participate, have a voice, and impact the learning community of their child鈥檚 school. PACs work in consultation with the principal on the governance and establishment of the PAC itself.

What is the Central Okanagan School District doing well or not doing well to allow our students to become productive adults?

A true measure of a student鈥檚 success is whether or not they are learning the fundamentals of education. Are they learning algebra, geometry, calculus, biology, chemistry, physics, languages, business, law, physical education, reading, writing, typing/keyboarding, grammar, history? If they are grasping these subjects, then we know our students are more successfully prepared for future education and careers. Our graduation rates are high in our district, plus we offer many streams for further academic/career pursuits, but how do we measure the level of skill and knowledge that our students leave with? I am concerned that the removal of letter grades will make it difficult to establish an accurate measurement of these learning outcomes and if it accurately convey their scholastic achievements.In addition, it is always beneficial for parents to build relationship with their child鈥檚 teacher and understand the teacher鈥檚 goals and aspirations for the classroom and individual students.

What role should our education system play in supporting students facing gender identification issues?

Although young people today are having to wrestle with such weighty matters as gender identification issues, the education system should not usurp the right of parents to raise their children according to their family鈥檚 values. As schools, we endeavour to provide basic supports to accommodate the diversity of students and families.

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