The following are candidates' responses to the following questions: Incumbents only: With School District 43's recent difficulties, which resulted in $13.4 million in cost cutting, and a forensic audit noting lack of control and monitoring resulted in a deficit in 2012/'13, why should anyone vote for you, an incumbent who was on the board when it happened? To non-incumbents only: If you are elected, what issue would you bring to the board's attention? To all: What is your reason for running for school trustee? Also: Do you think there is enough transparency about what goes on in the school district? If not, how would you change it?
Behaviour interventionist, lives in Coquitlam
Expertise to offer board: advocacy
Endorsement: CUPE
Why run: "I felt there was a real need for change on the board. I felt the board has been a bit disconnected with the community, families, teachers and support staff, and I believe in any organization, when people have been there for a long time, relations and ideas get quite entrenched."
What issue: "How does the board know that they are running things effectively and efficiently? When was the last time the board went through a review process or a matrix on how effective they are, as recommended by the auditor general of B.C.?"
Transparency: "Absolutely not. One of the ideas I've had is to bring in some video [coverage on TV] during school board meetings like council has, for accessibility for the public a monthly newsletter about what happens in the district and our website needs a complete overhaul to make information more accessible."
