Brent Larsen
Running for school trustee in the Township of 91原创
Business owner, 43
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鈥� Have you held office in past? If so, please specify: No.
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Candidate provided bio:
Local businessman, Brent Larsen, loves the mission of the 91原创 School District: 鈥淭o Inspire All Learners To Reach Their Full Potential And Create a Positive Legacy for the future.鈥� Brent has owned and operated three businesses from the age of 20. Two businesses were sold and he continues to operate the third. In 2011 he was successful on Dragons鈥� Den. He lives in Murrayville with his wife, Jill, and two children. Prior to this they lived in Willoughby and Walnut Grove. Brent grew up in South Surrey/White Rock.
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Website:
Facebook:
鈥� Who is your favourite superhero, and why? Popeye 鈥榗ause he eats spinach.
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There are 12 candidates running for seven positions on 91原创 School Board. The following are questions asked of each trustee hopeful. They were directed to provide a minimum of a Yes, No, or Don鈥檛 Know answer, and given an option to expand on one answer in print (to a maximum of 100 words per question). They could expand on all questions online, if they wished to do so. The following are their replies.
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Questions and Answers:
1. What neighbourhood of 91原创 do you live in?
Answer: Murrayville and prior we lived in Willoughby.
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2. How many years have you lived in 91原创?
Answer: 7 years.
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3. How many 91原创 School Board meetings have you attended in the past year?
Answer: Two.
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4: Do you support the use of the SOGI resources in 91原创 schools?
Answer: No. I鈥檝e met the friendly, well-spoken man who is the BC SOGI lead. I have family and friends that deal with the things being taught in SOGI123. It needs to be addressed and children have to be loved through what they are dealing with. Therefore, I respect the people implementing SOGI123 and those who are standing for these children that need a voice. I, like many parents, don鈥檛 agree with the how. I have no dislike for anyone. No, I don鈥檛 support SOGI123. We need to work together and listen to all parents and find solutions.
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5. Should school districts once again have authority over municipal school taxation?
Answer: No. There are already too many level of government taxing residents.
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6. Are school administrators overpaid?
Answer: No. But I would need to see more stats on how they compare to other districts. Also turn-over and job satisfaction would be interesting to see. We need satisfied staff. I know in my business admin staff are critical to a functioning organization.
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7. Should the province have the power to dismiss school boards?
Answer: Yes. There needs to be financial accountability even for a board. Boards need to operate within their budgets just like families do.
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8. Should 91原创 offer incentives to attract more teachers?
Answer: Yes. However, also incentivize current teachers. As an employer it is always best to hire the best and keep the best. Teachers are awesome and need the tools to do their jobs efficiently.
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9. Do schools rely too much of parent fundraising efforts?
Answer: No. I think it is great parents are engaged and raising money. Good for them but I believe they need to spend it rather than keeping it in cash.
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10. Should the district do more to lobby for new schools in the faster growing areas?
Answer:
Yes. We need to get funds ahead of the curve and build, especially in areas like Willoughby/Yorkson. We just need to build our case with provincial government. Families deserve their children to have a place from the beginning. Nobody likes to be shuffled and the uncertainty. I have skills I can bring in negotiations and build bridges with the right people to get this done.
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11. Do you think the province is underfunding public education?
Answer: Don鈥檛 know. I would need to see the stats and how they compare to other provinces and internationally.
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12. Should the school district solicit corporate money by way of sponsorship to fund education?
Answer: Yes. If a company like Microsoft wanted to sponsor a wing of a school certainly I would take a look. There must be good checks and balances for potential conflicts.
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13. Should the school district cut down on using technology, like iPads and computers 鈥� to save money?
Answer: No. However, I do believe children should develop hand writing skills.
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14. Should the district have a strategy to reduce portables?
Answer: Yes. In some areas there are too many and some areas there are not many. I have spoken to parents and some like the flexibility of the portables.
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15. Should we re-instate the previous busing boundaries for students?
Answer: Don鈥檛 Know. There are many concerned parents who had to adjust to new buses and alternate ways to get to school. In some cases I have heard of neighbours having bus service and the other neighbour losing it.
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16. Should students requiring extra attention 鈥� such as ESL or those with behavioural or learning disabilities 鈥� betaught separately from other students?
Answer: No I personally don鈥檛 think so. However it could be case by case. Teachers need the support. I have heard from teachers that SEAs are in short supply and it is putting pressure on the teachers.
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17. Do you support increasing the amount of international students to help fund education?
Answer: Don鈥檛 Know. I would have to make sure there is enough resources and infrastructure without taking resources from existing students.
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18. Should a trustee live in the community they want to serve in?
Answer: No. But I do live here.
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19. Should there be a limit to the number of consecutive terms a trustee can serve?
Answer: Yes. I think politicians can become too comfortable.
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20. Should the district redevelop vacant school sites to bring in revenue?
Answer: Don鈥檛 Know. It would be a case by case decisions - all the proper due diligence is done.
