School Board elections affect us all

 

By Susan Hofforth

 

Municipal elections are coming up on October 16. It’s time again to have our say at the poll, and what we say can make a big difference. What happens in these voting booths affects us in our homes, our schools, on the roads, and in our communities. They can even speak to who the people are in the community and what we value. That is because municipal governments manage and spend the local budgets.

 

School board trustees are responsible for making decisions that affect what is taught in the schools.

 

Education decisions regarding what will be taught and how it will be taught are made at the provincial level. The province sets the guidelines, but the local school trustees decide how the guidelines are followed, and how the budget is spent. Those employed in school administration and in teaching carry out the teaching decisions made by the trustees, and the children, their parents and the community members take the benefits of those decisions.

 

Therefore, it is important to elect the people who want what you want, and share your values and ideas as these are the people who will be shaping the future of education and schools in the community. The schools are the heart and life of any community.

 

When it comes to making education decisions, a lot of voters would prefer to leave it to others. Some voters who don’t have children in schools at the moment feel that it doesn’t matter to them, or their say might be unwanted.  Some have never thought about what is important to a good school system, and have not considered things like jurisdictions, transportation, class sizes or class rooms, but asking questions of ourselves about these things can bring up ideas about what is important to the community. Even those without kids in the schools are still affected by what happens to the kids in the community.

 

For Northern Gateway Public Schools, in Whitecourt Ward 2, Jim Govenlock, Barb Maddigan, and Linda Wigton are running. For Living Waters, Dana Kentner and Irene Sawyer have been acclaimed as trustees. Get to know your candidate at the forum on October 5 at the Royal Canadian Legion, hosted by the Whitecourt Chamber of Commerce.