Question 1: Which three areas of education require immediate action in this jurisdiction?
Jason Milne | I have recently taken a survey and found that the following issues of are importance to Ward 4 residents… -Covid 19 fallout affecting Mental health as well as the “learning gap” -The K-6 Draft Curriculum -Enrollment, or rather, lack of enrollment at rural school throughout the district |
Jim Seutter | Immediate action Items -Covid-19, New -K-6 Curriculum and Learning Gaps |
Question 2: What will you do, in your role as a trustee, to ensure that provincial funding supports student learning in the best possible way?
Jason Milne | In terms of funding, I believe the best way to enhance learning is to provide proper supports within the classroom. Learning and engagement are a direct correlation to their teaching. I would try and ensure that class sizes are manageable and that proper aids are readily available, so ALL students have an opportunity to learn. |
Jim Seutter | As a trustee at budget approval time I am looking at two items- Per pupil student funding and the number of students in each class -these two numbers tell me a lot about the programing possibilities available to support student learning. |
Question 3: How do you see communication as part of your role as a trustee?
Jason Milne | Communication is and will always be paramount to my role as trustee. I have heard from numerous parents that they feel a major disconnect between themselves and their board members. School councils deserve someone who will take their issues and fight for them. |
Jim Seutter | Speaking on issues to communicate ideas and concerns is important in board and school council meetings. I prepare a report at every school council meeting on items of interest. Valuable information is learned by listening to parents. |
Question 4: Which working and learning conditions do you deem negotiable? Which do you deem non-negotiable?
Jason Milne | I would like to more choice involved and afforded to parents. With respect to Covid 19, I have heard of several situations in which children with medical mask exemptions were not afforded their exemptions status, but rather, given the choice to stay home, or wear a mask. Children with breathing issues such as asthma as well as other medical issues should be allowed exemption when is comes to masking, I would deem this as negotiable. I believe it would be somewhat naïve of me to try and offer a situation that is considered non-negotiable, that would be contradictory to my “open communication and transparency” platform. |
Jim Seutter | Negotiable item could PD time and a non-negotiable might be prep time. |
Question 5: What improvements, if any, should be made to more adequately provide for teachers’ professional development?
Jason Milne | With the looming implementation of the new curriculum, teachers are going to require significant time and PD to implement it effectively. I would like to be a part of a school board that supports our teachers 100%. |
Jim Seutter | Early dismissal with available PD or stress relieving activities. |
Question 6: To what extent should the process of negotiations between the school board and its employee groups be reported publicly?
Jason Milne | I would like this process to be as open and transparent as possible. Obviously, within reason of not sharing any personal information as well as wages and benefits. |
Jim Seutter | The public need to know that due process was followed and fair results were achieved. |
Question 7: Classrooms are becoming increasingly large and complex. What do you see as being the issues with supporting teachers and learners in these environments?
Jason Milne | If we find that class sizes are too large and or increasingly complex, we will need to investigate allocating funds for teachers’ aides. However, I know that the school in my ward, Fultonvale, is currently experiencing low enrollment. A school like this would greatly benefit from the opportunity to have more students. The same can be said of most, if not all of the rural schools in our district. My daughters attend Ardrossan because that is where the bus takes them. Ardrossan class sizes are bursting at the seam! I would like to explore options in which we can take some of the class load stresses off of a school like Ardrossan Elementary and spread them to other schools like Fultonvale, like Uncas. |
Jim Seutter | Teachers need suitable time off and professional help when stressed- students need loving care and professional help too. |
Question 8: Which programs in the jurisdiction do you think could be revamped and why?
Jason Milne | There is a program called the Mental Health Capacity Builders which I feel should be revamped. Currently, this program is funded for by the provincial and municipal government, however, it is somewhat under funded. It would be nice to see more of a collaboration between the provincial, municipal governments, as well as EIPS. The current system has the MHCB in your school for 3 years and then they move on to another school in the district. I believe these to be very valuable resources for our students and would like to see more funding to make this program more permanent. Furthermore, student transportation should be looked at and potentially re-structured, specifically for our rural students. Rural students are not afforded the same infrastructure opportunities that students have in urban areas. Students within a 2.4-kilometer radius of their school have had their transportation fees increase exponentially over the last 4 years. 2.4 kilometers is a large distance of you are expecting your child to take range roads without cross walks or intersection lights, it is putting rural students and their parents at a major disadvantage. I would like this to become a priority. |
Jim Seutter | German Program needs to meet standards of AB. ED. |
Question 9: What is your opinion on the incorporation of private schools within public school authorities?
Jason Milne | I believe whatever is good for EIPS is good for us all. So long as the incorporation contributes to the overall good, I believe it should be continued and possibly enhanced. |
Jim Seutter | I see it as positive for student programs if private schools join the public system as an alternative program. |
Question 10: What role should the school board take in discouraging bullying and supporting safe and caring schools?
Jason Milne | Board members should make it abundantly clear to the superintendent that ALL students should have access to a proper and fair education. I believe the district is doing an incredible job at encouraging inclusiveness and promoting emotionally healthy values. |
Jim Seutter | We need counsellors time to counsel and remediate students who are involved in bullying activities. |
Question 11: How do you think students with diverse learning needs should be supported in our school system during times of reduced funding?
Jason Milne | We can work together with our school councils and look for initiatives in which we can provide volunteers in order to help support those in need. As well, it could be a possibility that we provide funding from other areas that aren’t in such critical conditions. |
Jim Seutter | We need to work out a balance to share what resources we have between the needs of each competing program. |
Question 12: What do you see as your role when it comes to advocating for provincial funding for our school district?
Jason Milne | I believe that public schools are the backbone of our community, and I will gladly advocate for that! Education is obviously a major tenet of the public school but so is social engagement, sports, theatre and musical arts. I would bring awareness and pride to our public school system by engaging parents within the community and keeping them updated via social media, school council meetings, and above all, an open phone line. |
Jim Seutter | My role is to be supportive of initiatives that the board develops and any personal contacts with our local MLAs. |
Question 13: What is your vision for the future of our school division? Which opportunities and challenges do you see ahead?
Jason Milne | I want to see EIPS succeed in as many endeavours as possible! I would like to see our students achieve higher learning, higher graduation rates, and ultimately provide a solid foundation for the community of Strathcona County to build upon. Our youth are the ones that are going to continue making Strathcona County a great place to live and raise a family. There will always be challenges that arise, what they are specifically is unknown to any one person. However, if we can achieve a higher level of communication with our parents, school councils and trustees we are sure to face any challenge with great success. |
Jim Seutter | My vision for the future involves a return to “normal” in a post COVID world with similar opportunities and challenges. |
Question 14: How do you think our students and teachers need to be supported as we recover from the pandemic?
Jason Milne | This is a very important question to be asked. I can sense that the last 18 months have been stressful on teachers, parents, students, administration and executive. However, I do believe that we will come out of this stronger than ever. I would like to see every school in EIPS with a dedicated staff member who is there for mental health and assistance. Whether it be the students, teachers, or administration, they all deserve the ability to quickly and privately speak to someone who can help them out. It is my understanding that there is a program called MHCB, Mental Health Capacity Builders that spend an allotted time in one school and then move on to another school in the district. Having an initiative like this, but FULL time is something I would like to see happen in EIPS. |
Jim Seutter | Teachers and students need extra funded help in the classroom to be successful due to the learning gaps of the pandemic. |
Question 15: To what extent are you familiar with the draft curriculum and what are your thoughts?
Jason Milne | I have definitely become very familiar with the draft curriculum and have come to the following conclusion…I feel that there is a major lack of relevancy, and the proposed curriculum is far too advanced based on the age group of the students, particularly in the Social Studies area. I believe it would be wise to postpone the release of the curriculum so it can be amended as well as give our students the proper time to catch up from loss of learning experienced over the past 18 months. |
Jim Seutter | As a Trustee we get regular updates and in-services on the new K-6 curriculum, and I think it needs revisions and implementation needs to be delayed. |
Question 16: Teachers can share concerns with the Teacher Board Advisory committee. Trustees have traditionally been active members of the committee; in the last year, trustees have stopped attending meetings with teachers. What is your position about attending these meetings, where teacher concerns are discussed?
Jason Milne | I would like to learn more as to why the trustees stopped attending these meetings. Obviously, if there is a benefit to teachers and trustees, I would like to see these meetings attended again. I have a family made of teachers and I have heard some of their frustrations and issues. I think it is important for teachers to have an opportunity to voice their concerns. |
Jim Seutter | I enjoyed the meetings with TBAC because of the social interaction. Most of the conversation was about operational issues for administration not policy which we deal with as trustees. So I think it is not a necessary meeting for trustees except for the relationship value and understanding gained on some operational issues. |