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THE NEW TANNER2THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2010 Trustee Candidates have their sayAfter the October 25 municipal election, there will be was recently appointed school board chair until the The Halton Board has almost 50,000 students at 79 one, not two trustees representing Georgetown and Ac-election, and Gillian Tuck Kutarna of Georgetown, elementary and 16 secondary schools. The Halton Hills ton students, schools and parents at the Halton District want reelection. They are challenged by Mandy Kerfoot trustee will be responsible for 15 local schools.School Board, where a distribution based on population of rural Acton, who runs a distribution company with We asked the candidates the following questions:cost Halton Hills a seat.her mother, and sits on the parent council at Limehouse Both incumbents Gerry Ockenden of Acton, who Public School.#1 - Faced with #2 - Many Acton #3 - What should #4 - What is your vi-#5 - If elected, you CANDIDATEanother staff recom-parents feel the voters know about sion to ensure Acton have four years. mendation to sell Board did not listen you? What skills do students continue What do you want to more school land, to their concerns you bring to the table to receive the skills accomplish?like the recent sale with the recent MSB to advocate for Acton they need in a rapidly at McKenzie-Smith land sale. How would students and par-changing world?Bennett School, what you ensure they have ents?would you do?a voice?I would exhaust all other I would be in contact with I am a passionate parent What do the students I would create a posi-possibilities first, or see school officials and the of three beautiful little girls need to succeed in school tive relationship with the Mandy Kerfootwhat kind of compromises parent council as well as with a direct stake in deci-that they do not already schools and their fam-could be arranged with the anyone else that requested sions made at the Halton have? That is something ilies to rebuild lost trust powers that be to ensure information on such ser-Public School Board. I cur-I am willing to find out by from the recent MSB land much needed green space ious issues. I have started rently sit on Limehouse communicating with the sale. I would minimize around the schools is not a facebook page under parent council; orchestrate schools and families. Our stresses on school admin-sacrificed for the future, smcmandy@yahoo.ca for the popular special lunch taxes contribute to the istrators so they can focus for a few dollars for today. anyone to communicate program. I sat on a non- same things as the larger on enjoying and running With growth, it makes no with me online. Informa-profit gymnastic board with communities so we should an efficiently successful sense to sell any lands with tion is knowledge, which 1,000 members. I was not be allowed equal access school instead of having active schools, as it would is why I am still baffled afraid to speak up and fight to all programs.to worry about red tape. cost the school board even that the current school for what was right. Those Having open communica-more money if they had to trustees ignored a 5,000- that know me know I am tion with parent councils buy new property to build a name petition to save the persistent and can get the and the community would new school, instead of ex-MSB lands. Acton is just job done quickly, efficiently certainly be a priority.panding an existing school as important as George-and am very resourceful.on existing lands.town Milton, Oakville and Burlington.It is difficult to take one The Board was very aware Being an advocate for The Halton District School We are all life-long learners, component out of an equa-of the viewpoints from Ac-students, focusing on stu-Board is a provincial lead-I will continue to advocate tion and expect it to make ton citizens, parents and dent achievement, and er in many areas affecting for students, encourage Gerry Ockendensense. Land sales are students. Many parents, as ensuring our children are student achievement. student success and cele-only one component of a well as the Mayor were in-prepared for the future is Pathways is just one ex-brate student achievement larger picture-the ability of vited to the Board to speak, the single-most important ample, offering transition by recognizing all the part-the Halton District School and all 11 voting trustees role of a trustee. That man-programs, Specialist High nerships that fuel these Board to meet student ac-heard the issues at many date is outlined in Bill 177, Skill Major training and five accomplishments. Work-commodation needs. The board and committee and is applicable to every-distinctive pathways to fu-ing collaboratively with the Ministry will provide some meetings. Halton District one who assumes the role ture success. Continuing to other 10 elected trustees money for new schools, School Board Trustees of trustee for Halton stu-place priority on these and to further these goals will but the Board has a fund-are each elected within dents.other successful student be our collective challenge ing obligation and right a specific riding, repre-achievement initiatives is for the next four years.now thats through sale senting those constituents critical to ensure continued of surplus lands. If land who elected them, but also student success.sales are not the publics maintaining a balance to preferred option, then meet the needs of the en-other solutions have to be tire Board.sought and negotiated with the province.I would urge that such a The communitys school For the last four years, I I believe we need more on-Last year I brought forward step not be taken. Effect-board representative served as the Trustee for line learning opportunities, a motion which asked the ive representation means should be ready to take Halton Hills, Wards 3 and to provide greater course school board to eliminate Gilliangetting involved in an issue the lead on school board 4, and for two of those options and more schedul-course fees, and I would Tuck Kutarnaright from the beginning. A issues, and be a voice years, I was Chair of the ing flexibility.also like to see the Board Trustee should build rela-for their community. An Board. As an Education, The Board is expanding review how extracurricular tionships with Board staff, experienced Trustee can Poverty and Family lawyer, its Specialist High Skills activities are funded.so that when issues af-also provide facts, con-I have made it my career Majors program, which In the last term I called for fecting their schools come text, and strategy, based to advocate for the rights allows students to focus the Board to take a leader-up, they are consulted in on their knowledge of how of children and low-income their courses on special-ship role on environmental the early stages, and con-decisions get made at the families. I have fought for ized areas of study. It will issues, including building tinually throughout the Board, so that involved construction of Gardiner be important to consider new schools to energy ef-process. Strong leadership parents target the right Public School in George-Acton as a centre for more ficient standards. In the would also include facilitat-people with the right mes-town South, renovations of these certificate pro-coming term I will advocate ing meaningful community sage.to the Georgetown District gramsfor retrofitting older schools consultation, and bringing High School, the addition to increase their water and that input to the prompt of the Field of Dreams, and energy efficiency.attention of staff and other the reduction of portables Trustees.from 21 down to three.