Open Letter to the Taxpayers of the District of North Vancouver:

I have made a commitment – I am running for the position of School Trustee in my community. This decision came out of a number of experiences in my life. I first became involved with my local school as many do, out of necessity and my desire as a parent to find the best learning opportunities for my children. However, as I became increasing familiar with the system and the people who work on behalf of our children, I also realized that I have much to offer to the community as a whole.

I have now been actively working with our school board for eight years. Networking with parents, school administration, educators, and our community leaders has given me the opportunity to develop a very thorough understanding of our local policies, budgetary issues, and the needs of our students and families. I have seen first-hand the negative impact of our serious lack of creative and innovative educational programming, both on families and on our declining enrolment numbers.

Today, North Vancouver District parents continue to seek educational options that are currently only available in other districts. Others opt to pay for the expense of an independent school to meet the learning needs of their children. We have a critical shortage of the types of effective educational programs that will keep students in our classrooms, and will attract and retain high quality educators.

Specialized educational programs touch every classroom in our district. Cut these programs, and teachers are left without vital resources and tools, affecting the learning outcomes of every single student in their classrooms. My fear is that programs such as gifted and other special needs may be seen as expendable, making them vulnerable targets for short-term fiscal strategies.

High profile cuts made without foresight, simply to gain a politically desirable quick budget fix, have devastating long-term affects and invariably carry a huge cost long after those responsible for such cuts have left. Tightening budgets demand creative solutions that reflect a solid understanding of our district’s overall needs – both now and into the future – while remaining responsible to the bottom line.

I am in this for the long term; my roots and my family are firmly established in District 44. I know how to work effectively in partnership with our community organizations. I am dedicated to building innovative and fiscally sound policies to ensure our district develops quality education for every child, while maintaining critical programs so that no child is left behind.

Let’s make North Vancouver School District the best place to live and learn.