Two candidates for the 91原创 School board have declared themselves.
Incumbent trustee David Tod said he will seek a second term while outgoing District Parent Advisory 锟糃ouncil President Suzanne Perreault wants to win her first.
In her announcement, Perreault cites her background as a professional counsellor, youth and family workers and advocate 鈥渨ho 锟糰ssists families to better connect the home and school, believes strongly in the 锟紀pportunity of excellence in education for all and has a healthy track record for 锟約uccessful partnership with parents, educators, and government to make it happen on 锟紇arious levels.鈥�
Perreault has been nominated for both the Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Award and 锟糀utism Excellence Award for Advocacy.
The Perreault announcement said she was 鈥渋nstrumental in leading 锟糲onversations with the Ministry of Advanced Education to improve post-secondary 锟紀pportunities for students with individual learning plan designations.鈥�
鈥滐考During her six years with DPAC, three as President, Suzanne worked diligently to both 锟糲reate and strengthen multiple community partner relationships within the District to 锟糴nhance outreach and support options for families and their children. In her capacity as 锟糄PAC President, she was also instrumental in developing a collaborative working 锟糲ommittee with the School District which led to the provision of every classroom with 锟糰n emergency preparedness kit and tents for district schools and seeing speed 锟紃eduction signs posted in several Summer Session school zones.鈥�
鈥淧erreault believes that children in our district deserve nothing less than a safe and 锟糹nclusive environment where they are nurtured to achieve their potential. She is 锟糲ontinuing to commit to sustaining the collaborative child centered vision in 锟糴ducation with specific sights in the area of our Indigenous community, inclusive 锟糴ducation and emergency preparedness. 鈥淥ur children deserve nothing less than 锟紅o be afforded these basics,鈥� the statement concludes.
The statement issued by Tod notes he has lived in 91原创 since 2002, residing in the Willoughby area.
鈥淎s a father of four and employed for over 34 years in education, David has experienced the education system as both a parent and an employee,鈥� the statement re4ads.
鈥淗e has taught in multi-grade settings, as a PE teacher, an elementary school counsellor and for the past six years as a learning support teacher. David has firsthand knowledge of what is required to successfully navigate a child through the education system, especially those who experience difficulties with their learning.鈥�
The statement said he has 鈥減rioritized engagement with the school district stakeholders (DPAC, parents, staff, District leadership and students) in his first term鈥� and 鈥渉as acted decisively at the Board level on several key issues including the right sizing of 91原创 Secondary School, the building of the new RE Mountain Secondary School, and the expansion of elementary spaces in Willoughby.鈥�
鈥�91原创 School District鈥檚 strengths are the students, staff and parents who make it the dynamic organization it currently is,鈥� Tod said.
He lists his top three priorities for as advocating for capital funding for new schools, revitalizing relationships with parents, staff, students, and our First Nations, and ensuring that the new education funding model is fair for the 91原创 School District (especially for our students with exceptional needs).
Tod has served on several committees including the Youth Advisory Committee (Township), the Parks, Recreation, Environment, and Culture (City of 91原创) and the standing school board committees of Finance & Facilities, Education Committee, and Strategic Planning..
He has held the position of on-call firefighter with the Township of 91原创, volunteered at the 2010 BC Summer Games and coached 91原创 youth soccer.
The municipal election will take place on Oct. 20
