With only two questions being posed by attendees, the four candidates who took part in the school board portion of the all-candidates forum on Oct. 9 at the Westlock Memorial Hall mostly stuck to emphasizing their experience as trustees or educators.
David Truckey and Jan Hoffart took part in the debate for Westlock Electoral Sub-division 3 seat on the Pembina Hills board; the third candidate, Doug Pearson, did not take the stage.
Both of the candidates for the Ward 3 seat on the Evergreen Catholic Separate Regional Division (ECSRD) board, Caren Mueller and Bob Oko, also participated in the forum.
Hoffart said she has been a resident of the community for the past 20 years. She has experience teaching most grades at Westlock Elementary School, as well as with the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI), literacy consulting and special education.
Hoffart noted that communication is key for school boards and wants open communication channels with parents.
She also noted she is a “lifelong learner” and would welcome the challenge of becoming a trustee.
When asked what should be the division’s three main priorities, she said she would like to first focus on high school completion, which she believes begins with working in early education.
“We want students to have that sense of belonging. I think that’s crucial for students in high school,” she said.
Secondly, she said she wants to work towards achieving the goals of the new Education Act, noting it contains a lot of interesting language around creativity and focusing on the environment.
“I think the school board will have a really big impact in working towards that,” she said.
Her third priority would be teacher wellness. “I think we’re only as good as our weakest teacher. And I think with cutbacks and class sizes growing, that will impact our teachers,” she said.
Hoffart closed by saying she is passionate about education and wants to be approachable by the community.
“I am knowledgeable about education and I am a team player,” she said.
She also stressed that if she’s voted in, “being a school trustee will be my primary focus for the next four years.”
Truckey said he was elected to the Pembina Hills board amidst a sad time, as it followed the passing of long-time trustee Doug Fleming.
He said he was urged to join the board by Sharon Volorney, who said they needed some stability on the board.
“Barely” winning the by-election taught him “you have to work hard for everything you’re ever going to achieve in life,” he said.
Truckey said he has gained a huge base of knowledge and experience in his 18 months as a trustee.
“I believe that Pembina Hills has moved a long way forward in areas of communication and accountability in the last three years, but in particular my 18 months,” he said. “Is there room for growth in Pembina Hills? Absolutely. Is there room for improvement? Yes.”
When asked what makes him “uniquely qualified” to represent both town council and school board, he answered, “I wouldn’t say I was uniquely qualified. But I have a passion for Westlock, and that’s what it really drills down to.”
He further noted that he’s lived in Westlock all his life, and his time on council and school board has “always been about serving my community.”
In his closing remarks, he highlighted five priorities for the division for the future, including technology improvement in local schools, high school completion rates, early entry students, capital planning and bullying.
He said he was glad to be part of the team that finally arranged for a new school at Neerlandia, and stressed that many schools in Pembina Hills are aging and need improvement.
He said he was also glad to see more emphasis on stopping bullying within the Education Act and noted Pembina Hills students are on an upward trend based on a recent presentation regarding Provincial Achievement Tests.
He also stressed the need to stay up-to-date with technology in schools as “our children are in a technological age, it’s a part of their life.”
Caren Mueller said she was born and raised in Westlock and is a proud graduate of St. Mary School, which her children now attend.
Mueller said that when candidates put in their nomination papers, they are asked why they are running as a Catholic trustee.
“My faith motivates me to be a Catholic trustee, as well as being a product of the Catholic education system,” she said.
“I am running again as a trustee because the education of our children is paramount.”
Mueller said she will continue “as a strong voice” to ensure students have a quality Catholic education and will continue to build relationships and work respectfully with all stakeholders.
“As a trustee, it’s essential to me that our beliefs permeate all we do,” she said. “However, we cannot do that alone.”
She added, “We must continue to reach out to our Catholic community and to be committed to strengthening the ties between parish, home and school.”
She noted that although the new Education Act protects publicly-funded Catholic education, the regulations on how it will be protected have not been written.
She also said reductions in Evergreen’s funding are presenting significant challenges for special needs students, general programming and enlarged class sizes.
Mueller stressed she has always been community-minded, serving as the president of her local Catholic Women’s League and a member of the GROWTH Alberta board. She also noted she chairs the annual School Expo sub-committee.
She also said she sits on a number of provincial committees connected to the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) and would like to keep her finger “on the pulse of education.”
Mueller said people often point out to her that she has served as a trustee for 18 years now.
“I really believe that I still have more to give to our students, to our teachers, to this community,” she said. “My passion, my drive has not waned over the 18 years that I’ve been here.”
Oko said he was raised in the Westlock area and has lived here most of his life. His involvement with St. Mary School goes back 37 years and encompasses his time as a teacher, vice-principal, principal and, more recently, as a substitute teacher.
“I feel that with my past involvement in the field of education, I can offer a valuable service to the Evergreen Catholic regional district, and particularly to St. Mary School,” he said.
Oko noted he has seen the local school district start off as its own entity, merge with other Catholic districts in the 1980s, transition to the “Living Waters” School Division and eventually join up with Evergreen in the late 1990s.
Oko said there are many issues facing our schools, including the new Education Act, keeping up with ever-changing technology, creating opportunities for students in a rural setting such as the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP), operating efficiently with fewer dollars and the influx of immigrants coming to Alberta.
“I have witnessed many changes in education over the past 37 years in areas such as curriculum, school-based budgeting, teacher bargaining and student funding,” he said.
He noted that St. Mary is a truly unique school as there are few K-12 institutions left anymore.
“A child can start in Kindergarten and graduate from Grade 12 all in the same school,” he said, noting students also join St. Mary at the junior high from outlying schools.
He noted the school strives for excellence in academics and sports, and it features an outstanding music program.
“If elected, I feel that with my prior experience in education, I can provide a valuable and diligent service to the teachers, parents, administrators and children of Ward 3,” he said.
Oko also said he believes he can form “a good working relationship with Pembina Hills trustees” if elected.
“I’m really happy to run and hope I have your vote,” he said.
