This week school district candidates answered questions for the Spotlight.
Q: State your primary profession, or primary former profession, if you are retired.
Dan Hillman: Mill maintenance planner, Copper Mountain Mine
Jamie Kent-Laidlaw: I work as a Detachment Services Assistant for the RCMP
David Rainer: Employee at Copper Mountain Mine
Ed Staples: Retired teacher and educational consultant
Leah Ward: Certified career development practitioner: employment coach, workshop facilitator, trainer
*******
Q: Do you have children in school, in SD58?
Dan Hillman: Yes
Jamie Kent-Laidlaw: Yes
David Rainer: No
Ed Staples: No
Leah Ward: Graduate
*******
Q: Approximately how many hours, per month, are you able to dedicate to district business?
Dan Hillman: 15-25
Jamie Kent-Laidlaw: As required
David Rainer: 150
Ed Staples: 80+
Leah Ward: 60
*******
Q: Using bullet points, list up to five of the most important issues facing Princeton schools.
Dan Hillman:• Equity inside the district • Bussing for Princeton students • Student supports • Communication with community
Jamie Kent-Laidlaw: Resource equity vs Merritt schools • Support for teachers (EAs, counsellors, etc.) • Bullying • Extracurricular opportunities • Bus access
David Rainer: • Teacher/staff recruitment •Mental health • Funding from government • Maintaining course selection • Opening up childcare spaces
Ed Staples: • The effects of COVID 19 on student learning • Equitable access to educational opportunities across the entire district • Communication between all stakeholders, i.e. parents, students, teachers, administrators, trustees
Leah Ward: • Unfunded rising costs • Numeracy rates • Mental health • Recruitment of specialized teachers • Maintaining higher staffing numbers so all students have equitable opportunities of larger schools
*******
Q: Do you have experience in governance? Answer yes or no and, if yes, you may name up to three organizations using bullet points.
Dan Hillman: Yes. • Employee advisory committee • Princeton Posse Board of Directors
Jamie Kent-Laidlaw: Yes: • RCMP Victim Services • Princeton Kokanees Swim Club executive board • Scouts Canada (Princeton group) executive board
David Rainer: Yes. • School board trustee • Save our Hospital committee • Princeton Golf Club board
Ed Staples: Yes. • President, Support Our Health Care Society (Princeton) • President, BC Rural Health Network • CORE member, Rural Coordination Centre of BC
Leah Ward: Yes. • Third term trustee SD58 • Chair of BCSTA professional learning committee • Board member of Princeton Leaders for Literacy
*******
Q: Using bullet points, list the ways you will make yourself available for parents to contact you - by home phone, work phone, cell phone, Facebook, Messenger, or other. (If you include “other” you may have 10 words to explain.)
Dan Hillman: • Email • phone
Jamie Kent-Laidlaw: • Cell phone • Facebook • Messenger • other - email, texts, in person
David Rainer: • Phone • Cell • Email • Facebook • Zoom
Ed Staples: • Home phone • Cell phone • Facebook • Messenger • Email • In-person meeting
Leah Ward: • Streets and socials • FB Messenger • Twitter • Instagram • Email • Phone