Page 14, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, November 0, 1994 DURAMBOARD 0F EDU CATION Candidates for trustee JACK BREMER The key te, producing botter students la te include parents in their chiid's education, says trustes candidate Jack Bremer. "We bave te find ways of gettin? parents involved," ho says. 'Scbools have te ho made te reaeb eut te parents." Bremer, *ho was a university Professor for 10 yeers, decries the sect that somne of bis former students were entoring post- secondary education with hlittleor ne askilîs on suchbabsica as grammer and spelling. It bas deterioreted over the pat 40 yeers, hoe says, and wili get worse unlesa a radical change is affected. As part of this, Bremer socs a lack of respect for teechers stemming from a lack of discipline being practiced et homo. 'You bave te convince parents thet it's in their interest, te see their chiidren hocome well- educated, hoe says. Teacb them discipline and respect et berne, ho urges. Bremer says thet standards are ne longer enforced. Ho socs the apprenticesbip system in Europe, wbere students become masters la their fielda, as one that Canada should implement. By doing this, ho aays, we wiii croate productive membora of society wbo cen join the work force immodiately upon graduation. It 15 a change that sbould ho done from the bottem up, ho says, instead et' the current metbod et' tinkering witb tbings fron, the top down. PATTY BOWMAN As Durham Board et' Education chair, Patty Bownian promises, if elected, te continue working te ensure students continue reciving a quality education. To achieve this, she says she will continue working on ways te, reach eut te the community "We've endeavoured te provide botter dialogue (between parents and scheols)," she says. As an exemple, she cites the Comnmunity Visions pregrarn which sbe started three years a&g . Today it is, a dgroupiof e ducators, parents and fiii wbo meet regularly te discuss educatien issues. "We have te shape community involvement in a way that improeos student learning," she says. "Ilil continue te do wbat I've been doing.". Bowman stresses thet it is through collaborative efforts, now idteas are born. "(Ideas) don't just dump eut of a trustee's bat," she says. Some of the challenges that will face the new board in the cominy ears include the fact that, Tere is ne new money goinq inte education provincially." She stresses that Durhamn bas helped in cost-cutting by reducing its board frem 20 members te 15. In the end, Bowrnan states that ber bottomn lino is te, "improvo student learning." JAMIECURRAN Jarnie Curran says he was. encouraged te mun as a public scbooi trustee aller seeing the word Cbristmas being repiaced by Holiday in region scbools. Ho says that it is just the latest of many traditions that are being destroyed by local officiais. "ts timo as a parent te try te soc whates going on, " ho says of bis candidacy. Curran works in the insurance industry and is a Iiflong Durhamn resident. He bas two chiidren wbo go te Catholhi schools in the regien. Ho wants to, see bis tax dollars spent more wiseîy, "te assure that every cbild gots the best qualiy ducation possible." The plot program for aIl-daLy- ovr-Mr-dayjunior ldndergarten is wrong, says Curran. Cbildren at that tender a ge are simply teo young fer an ahl-day progrem. Ho says ho is opposed te, spending millions on the new educatien centre on Taunton Road, while some programs such as special education are cut. DOUG ROSS Deug Ross advocates a "completely open-door policy" on public school issues. Ross is a candidate for Durham Board of Education trustee in the Nov. 14 election. He says until ho mnoved te Durham in 1974, ho had nover beard the terni 'in camera' (having a meeting bebind closed doors). In Whitby, ho says it is used far tee much. If hoe is elected, Ross will urge residents te corne te, himn and tak about any problems. "I have nothing te hi de," ho says. Ross is a local businessman who ruas a candy distribution company frem bis own home. Ross, who bas four cildren, wants t e s the board deal with sucb issues as drugs and violence in scbeels. Ho says that it was a wasto of taxpayers' monoy te build the new educ ation centre on Taunton Road. Ross maintains tbat thore is a lot eof empty office space in the region that could have been converted, instead of spending $1 33 million for the new building. Recentiy, bis namne bas been rnentioned on a Praise Report, whicb bas circulated te area churches. It lists Christian candidates, including Ross. Ho says that the group was originally formed to belp new- corners te the pelitical arena, mun a campaiga. Ho sees nothing wreng in the listing. Other groups, such as unions, teachers and homosexuals produce lista that endorse their own preferences, ho says. Ho says ho is a parent, net a politician, and makes ne promi ses but stresses that ho will wokbard fer al residents. TANYA GULLWVER One of the most important airns for incumbent Tanya Gulliver is te, continue streamlining bow public money is spent. Her concern is "making sure that as much money is getting into the classrooms , she says. Gulliver wes first elected in 1991 to the Durham Board of Education. A mether of two, Gulliver advocates sharing some services and costs with the separete scboel board. Such things as bulk purcbasing and shared busing sbould be studied te help save meney. Gulliver describes herseif as a good listener, wbo 15 willing to change ber viows te roflect the wishes eof the majority when it cornes timo te, vote. As an example, she says that she voted against ali-day-every-other-day kindergatn aller discovering most of the public didn't support it. In the upceming term, Gulliver stresses that the board should take another look at the pilot preject on junior kindergarten. Some of the matters that she bas worked on as a trustee were employment. equity and harassment policies. Other issues for Gulliver in- the upcoming term include standardized testing, a niodified school year, and now funding formulas that wiIl have to be looked at after the expiration of the social contract. GEORGE M1LOSH The open concept of schooling that was begun in the 1960s is not good for teday's students, says Whitby trustee candidate George Milosh. "People are net learning how to) think," he says. "The asica are very important te me." Milosh, who served on the board from 1990 to 1991, believes that more of an eniphasis should be placed on the three Rs. He is concerned that chiidren are Eraduating.from high schools not knowing how te speil. I learned to spell by age 10Oor 12," hie says, attributing it te the fact that he learned tbrough constant repetitien., As a former trustee, Miioshsays she has seme experience te offer voters. "One is confronted with meetings," he says. As many as 30 heur each week are spent just proparing by reading varieus reports. Then the information bas te be distilled and, says Milosh, "The key is te make the wisest decision possible." Ho says that if he is elected, he will promise te listen te bis constituents and vote according te their wishes. Milosh has a business background in the real estate industry and aise sat as executive directer of the Durham Industry Education Council. Ho advocates a greater eniphasis on "providing students with the human resources and business/technical training te, best prepare students for the world of work or post-secondary fields of study." DURAMSEPARATE BOARD Candidates for trustee SYLVIA RAPONI Fundamental change should ho adopted et separate scbools if Canada is te produce high quaiity students in the changing economy, says trustee candidate Syva am "#We bave t start thinking of educating these kids et an earliir time," she seys. Raponi would like te soc Canadien achools begin focussing on eerier graduation times sucb as in Europe. That way, money could ho saved by sending young people inte the workforce much earlier than 18 now the case. "We cen't al ho doctors and lawyers," she says, stressing that some studente wouId ho hotte r served if they wore taught specfic tredes. She would aiso likrc oeseo bigber education standards, thus ensuring btter studonts. Reponi says that religion must ho stressed because it teaches children e velue systom from whicb tbey could learn frora. She wants te maintain the strong Catbolic morals that are currently hing taugbt. "I'm net e politicien, I'm a inother," she se ys, adding thet she bas throechcildren wbo spent tino in Italy. Whea tbey returned te Canadien scbools, tbey were ahead of other students hocause of botter teaching methods. Reponi aise wants te 500 parent committees meet regularly te discuss issues that go on ia ro-gion schools. Safety la also a big issue in Rapeni's mind. She wants busing te continue se, thet, as a mother, she cen feel confident that bier cbildren arrive et scbooi unbarmed. MAUREEN LICSI The entire school system should be restructured by looking et eech sub-system an d "icorrecting the flaws and weaknesses," says separete scbool trustee candidate Maureen Licsi. "We bave te look et the entire system as a wbole," she says, and t hen work on eacb individuel sub-system. "I would like our schoels te bave eaquality of educetion in basic skil is," she seys. Currently, Licsi says, tbere ia net enough focus on the 3Rs. By setting standards, "we will ho able te belp(holow average) students." Itwill take a concerted effort hotween parents, schools and the entire cemmunity, Uicsi stresses. parent edvisory councils are a good tool te make this change, she says. Fiscal responsibility is alse an imotat issue te Licsi, =etoig thet funds should ho diverted te the clessrooms as a first priority. Licsi bas a background in business and ecenemies. As well, she bas taugbt in bier native Philippines. She bas spent seven years in Durham an d bas two cbildren. She bas worked witb the Girl Guides, Heert and Stroke Feundation and the Kidney Foundetion. She owns bier own business, a computer suppîies company that is run from h r own home. Licsi descrihos berself as "honest and herd-working." Licsi seys that separate scol students should ho taught basic Christian values because "They will ho the leaders eof tomorrow." JUDY MORRIS Fer incumbent trustee Judy Morris, one eof the most imortant issues is article 136 of the Education Act. It states that separete schoels will soon bave te bire teachers thet are net necessarily Catholic. She decries this, saying "We have te bave the right te chxoose the Catholic teachers we need." As a trustee, she promises te, negotiate with the province te change that rogulation Morris socs it as a fundamental issue. A recent ' addition te, the seperate scheol system the design contres opernn n Whitby and Pickering. They are technological centres that contain different areas eof stud sucb as desktep publishing, CAR and cern puter animation. Morris isoexcitedebout tbem. "I'm thrilled witb the response from the cbildren," she says. "There's sornething for everyone." Currently she is studying environînental tecbnology et Durhamn College and bas spent nlmost sevon years witb scouts. She has worked witb the Cathelic Woman's League, miner hockey, ki dney and cancer groups as weIl as being a member eof the Whitby General Hospital for 10 years. She was flrst elected te the board in 1991. She maintains a strong Catholic commitment, and says she is open, articulate- and able te make difficult decisions. Morris bas two children. 10t1hi hoimportant te make streng decisions with the outcome of the Royal Commission on Learning," she says, noting that report is due in December 1994. TOM OLDMAN One eof Tom Oldman's main goals if elected for the upceming terrn a to reduce the ceat eof debt charges which last year tetaled $4.6 million. As a parent witb four -cbildren in the separate scbool systeni, Qîdman says, I don't went te, pay a nickel more in taxes." Oldman says that in the next tbree years, there will ho a growth rate of about 15 pr cent in the se parate scbools. With the provincial goverament refusing te increase funding, "We are going te ho in for a rude awakeaing," lho warns. Ho advocates a re-evaluation of the existing expenditures, se, that future growtb cen ho more efficiently managed. Qidman is looking te ho re- elected for bis fourth tern, and bas fine years experienco as a trustee. Ho se ys that oxperience will serve the board welI h ceuse tbey are currently in the process ofbhiring a new director. Sharing expenses with the pulcschool board is currently hondone on a limited scale says Oldman. Busing in rural areas is hoing sbared, and tbe seperate board must study furtber areas in order te survive. FRANK CANNATARO Frank Cennataro would like te see iess taik and more action et the board level. "Everytbing that they need, we have te look aller tbern firat," hoe says eof the most important aspect of the scbool system: cbîldren. Cannataro is runniag for trustee on the Durham separate school board. As well Cannataro would like te see "nothing bass than zero per cent increases in scbool taxes.' To this end,1 ho would include parente ia talks on bow noney is spent. "Taxpayers have te know Whe'sgeing on," hoe says. Cannataro currently works for the Minis try of Finance. Ho bas hoon a rosidont for six years and bas one child. The tbree Rs are severoly lacking in teday's scbool system, Cannataro says. These have to ho emphasized more in the achool Aswlthe separate board and the public board sbould get together on such tbings as sbaring hulk purchaaing, te reduce expenditures. LUCIANA JOVANOVIC Greater efficiency in the budget must ho effected, says separete school trustee candidate Luciana Jovanovic. "How can we do it witb bass?" she asks. The board must look et ways te more properly spend its money se that students are SE E PAGE 15 a