The recent provincial commitment of $100 million for two new West Shore high schools was welcome news for SD 62 trustee candidates, but it did cause a sudden recalibration of election campaigns.

Messaging about keeping up the fight for new schools quickly transformed into planning for future growth, keeping tuned in about the school construction process, and fighting for adequate education funding.

Belmont zone trustee candidates seeking election and re-election met a typically small audience at the Nov. 3 all-candidates meeting at Isabelle Reader Theatre, mainly other educators and a few people from the community. The meeting was sponsored by the Sooke Parents' Education Advisory Council (SPEAC).

Veteran trustees Wendy Hobbs, Denise Riley and Dianna Seaton are looking to retain their seats, and are facing newcomers Donald Brown (son of outgoing trustee Don Brown), Dani Horgan, Tim Rud and Dean Sutton. Four trustees spots are up for grabs in the West Shore area.

Sitting trustees focused on the need to plan for growth as one of three or four districts in B.C. seeing a net increase in students.

B次元官网网址淲e need to carry on with the business plan,B次元官网网址� said Hobbs, the school board chair and five-term trustee. B次元官网网址淭he two new high schools are just the beginning. We need to keep the (education) ministry informed of our growth.B次元官网网址�

Dianna Seaton pointed out the district expects to see a 55 per cent increase in students over the next 15 years, and that the high schools are critical to making way for the influx of kids.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 my commitment to have the schools built in record time,B次元官网网址� said Seaton, a two-term trustee. B次元官网网址淚 have unfinished work that needs to get done.B次元官网网址�

Riley said the new schools will allow the district to shift the grade structure, which will make more room in elementary schools, but thatB次元官网网址檚 only part of the picture. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 not enough for student growth,B次元官网网址� said Riley, a five-term trustee. B次元官网网址淲e need to plan for more (school) sites.B次元官网网址�

Rud, who ran in the 2008 trustee election, is campaigning on trustee accountability and a more open public process on board decision making.

B次元官网网址淚 advocate transparency, especially with land use procedures,B次元官网网址� Rud said. B次元官网网址淎t board meetings itB次元官网网址檚 always a chore to get the publicB次元官网网址檚 point across. There should be more times at board meetings for public input.B次元官网网址�

Sutton said with his experience on the West-Mont school board in Metchosin, he understands how to get things done in education.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e spoken to every PAC president, to the SPEAC president and gathered information,B次元官网网址� Sutton said. B次元官网网址淚 like research and innovation. WeB次元官网网址檝e got to move into 21st century learning.B次元官网网址�

Brown said he wants to bring a youthful, positive perspective to the board, and said B次元官网网址渃lass size and composition is still an issue.B次元官网网址�

Horgan, who is also running for Metchosin council, said education is underfunded, and noted some parent advisory councils are burdened with a large amount of fundraising for necessary school supplies. B次元官网网址淓ducation needs to be valued and properly funded,B次元官网网址� Horgan said. B次元官网网址淐hildren will grow up to be our future.B次元官网网址�

On provincial issues, trustee candidates didnB次元官网网址檛 support the governmentB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渘et zeroB次元官网网址� mandate for the teachersB次元官网网址� contract negotiations.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not comfortable with a net zero mandate. People do a good job and they need to be recognized for that,B次元官网网址� Hobbs said. B次元官网网址淲e have a great working relationship with teachers. IB次元官网网址檓 not happy with a net zero mandate.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 lead to trust or a respectful atmosphere at the table,B次元官网网址� Riley said. B次元官网网址淚t makes no sense.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e have a very good relationship with teachers. ItB次元官网网址檚 taken a lot of hard work,B次元官网网址� Seaton said. B次元官网网址淏ut with two opposing factions with different ideas, there is always antagonism. They have to find a way to deal with it.B次元官网网址�

The concept of standardized testing also found little support among candidates, typically a sticking point between the teachersB次元官网网址� union and the government.

B次元官网网址淲e want benchmarks, but learning has changed,B次元官网网址� Sutton said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got to look at other jurisdictions on how to move kids along. WeB次元官网网址檝e got to move to something fresh.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淢y son gets sick about standardized tests,B次元官网网址� Horgan said. B次元官网网址淪tandardized tests are just about getting more stats.B次元官网网址�

On the role of technology in classrooms, Hobbs said much of that depends making the government make that a priority.

B次元官网网址淟earning is empowered by technology. The government states that, and weB次元官网网址檙e hoping to see funding for that,B次元官网网址� Hobbs said.

B次元官网网址�(Technology) is a way to engage student,B次元官网网址� Seaton said. B次元官网网址淪tudents learn in different ways and need different opportunities, and technology can be part of that.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com