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MUNICIPAL ELECTION Halton District School Board Trustee Wards 1 & 2 (elect one) Sean Haefner Age: 39 Occupation: Computer consultant Political experience: None. Message to voters: A lifelong Acton resident, I have always strived to help enrich our unique community. Now, as a parent activist and volunteer with six of my children attending local schools, I have become increasingly aware of the desperate need for progressive and positive representation for our local schools at the HDSB table. I decided several months ago that I would run for this position, with the ideal of returning accountability and excellence in education. Resources for our students and teachers in classrooms must be protected when budgets are slashed. I want to strengthen ties between local schools and the communities they serve, fostering a greater understanding between all community partners. Voting for me will help create a positive, progressive and safe learning environment for all students. Halton District School Board Trustee Wards 3 & 4 (elect one) Gillian Kutarna Age: 44 Occupation: mother and lawyer Political experience: None. I am a mother of four children in the Halton public school system, and a family and special education lawyer, where my focus is on the rights and needs of children. I have been a classroom volunteer for the past 11 years. I would bring my personal commitment, my professional skills, and my previous board of director experience to the task of re-building a team environment at the board, where students come before politics. I support building schools which can accommodate our population growth in Halton Hills. Portables and busing are not long-term solutions. I would like to see Halton become a leader in adopting board-wide environmentally responsible practices, involving students in leadership roles. I am committed to excellence in education: for our students, our staff and our trustees. Gerry Ockenden Age: 58 Occupation: retired Political experience: None. Message to voters: I have lived in Acton for 51 years, 35 of them with my wife Linda. We have a son Jason, a daughter Julie, a son-in-law Aaron and three grandchildren, John, Madison and Hayley I see education as a team effort, having parents and teachers, along with the support of the community, all working together to ensure the highest quality of education for every student in Wards 1 and 2 Halton Hills. A vote for Gerry Ockenden on November 13, is a vote for open and effective communications with all families, a traditional, yet progressive, approach to issues, responsibility with affordability and most of all making sure "the kids come first". A vote for Gerry Ockenden is a vote for our children, our future. Mike Parkhill Age: 44 Occupation: Director of the Education Sector, Microsoft Canada Co. Political experience: None. Message to voters: Mike Parkhill believes all students have the ability to learn, the passion to learn and the right to learn. The learning environment needs to adjust to the students' individual needs, this includes enhanced programs before, during and after school. Mike will be a strong advocate for the building of more schools. People feel since their children have finished school they lose interest in the school system. They still pay taxes; the trustee and the school board must still be accountable to these people for the several hundred thousand dollars in individual tax money spent. Mike Parkhill is committed to keep our community flourishing. The abilities of the youth of Georgetown is reflected through the safety of our community, the appearance of our neighbourhoods and our high property values. Halton Catholic District School Board Trustee (elect one) Irene McCauley Age: 63 Occupation: Retired Political experience: 26 years (1980-2006) Halton Hills Catholic School Board trustee. Message to voters: As your Catholic school trustee for 26 years, I have participated in the growth of Catholic education as it has evolved-- watching generations of Halton Hills children enter into JK and meet the challenges of learning and growing in their Catholic faith. I've been committed to promoting and preserving Catholic education. My priorities are: · Complete the addition to Christ the King · A new elementary school in Acton east and in Georgetown west ·Student achievement on provincial test (EQAO) among the top 5% in the province or better ·Continued fiscal accountability I ask for your continued support to re-elect me as your Catholic school board trustee on Nov. 13. Conseil Scolaire de District du Centre-Sud-Ouest (elect one) Claudette Sassou Messan Age: Occupation: Consumer and commercial credit analyst. Political experience: None. Message to voters: Establish a strong and vibrant partnership between the community, the council, the parents, the student and the staff. I need to hear everyone's voice to accomplish goals unheard of before. To meet the needs of the entire community. I was instrumental in the learning for life program at Mohawk College for mentally disabled adults. A pilot project unheard of, in the second year now. When we work together with the same vision we can attain results unheard of before. To develop and implement a strategic plan to increase access to French education to all in the community if they so desire. Canada is bilingual. Students need to know why they go to school--in the final analysis it is only for themselves. Rosanna Palmieri Age: 45 Occupation: Business owner Political experience: None. Message to voters: For the past 18 years, I have been an active parent member of elementary and secondary school councils. I had experience with the transition from Bishop Reding High School to Christ the King, monitoring school construction progress, arranging for delegations to the board for busing issues, learning about labour contract issues, curriculum changes, ministry funding, student health and safety issues, attended board meetings, and many more. I also volunteer in two children's ministries at Holy Cross Church working with children from preschool to Grade 8. As a business owner, I am familiar with issues related to finance/administration, human resources/management and operations. If elected, I will use my well-rounded experience to promote a team effort, working with parents, schools, church and the board to ensure our children reach their full potential, both academically and spiritually. I will stay in touch with the needs of today's young families in our community. Micheline Wylde Age: 58 Occupation: French Language Health Services Consultant. Political experience: Two terms as trustee for Conseil scolaire de district centre sud ouest Message to voters: In 1998, the Conseil scolaire de district centre sud ouest started with 23 schools and has opened 13 more since. One of the board's priorities is to enlarge its network of French public schools to those areas needing quality French language education. Because we are building our infrastructure, it is important to have experience around the table. I was on the new facilities planning committee and I know where the board has come from, where it's going and what needs to be done to get there. For my territory, the Francophone population demographics along the QEW, the 401 and eventually the 407 is increasing rapidly; plans submitted to the Ministry of Education include an elementary school in Milton and an elementary school in Georgetown.