Gail Whitfield PSSD Trustee Candidate - Subdivision Six (Moose Jaw)

1) Why have you chosen to run for a school board trustee?

I have chosen to run for a school board trustee because I have five grandchildren coming up in a school system that face many challenges with respect to classroom sizes and a very changing world with respect to technology, demographics and budget constraints. I believe it will take a board who can work together to face these challenges.

2) What qualifications do you bring to the board if elected--- these may include degrees etc. but also life lessons as well?

I sat on a School Board for five years in rural Saskatchewan. I was on the board during the amalgamation between Thunder Creek and the School Divisions that formed the Prairie South School Division. I am aware of the emotions, fears and uncertainty that parents feel when their lives and the lives of their children are about to change. We live in a very fast and changing world and there will always be changes and hard decisions. I have farmed with my husband in rural Saskatchewan for 33 years and was a Communications Officer for the Moose Jaw Police Service for 19 and a half years and Community Services for 4 and a half years. I provided administrative assistance to the School Liasion Officers and Victim Services.

3) Why should people vote for you?

I feel I would represent both rural and urban people with fairness and understanding. I feel I am approachable and would be respectful of any issues brought to my attention and would advocate on their behalf.

4) What do you see as the biggest challenge in education today?

I feel the biggest challenge in education is classroom sizes and whether enough supportive services are in place to help teachers deal with the ever increasing social changes and integration of students who may be struggling with emotional, cultural, and demographic issues.

5) Schools are changing with a very diverse student body—such as those of different races, language, cultures, disabilities, sexual orientation, varying faiths, economic standing and others—how would you make the school system better so that everyone had not the same opportunity but a fair and equitable opportunity to reach their full potential?

I think in order for School Board to address all these issues the funding has to be in place. It would require the board to be able to work with the provincial government to put the funding in place to meet these needs. I think every school needs a team of professionals from areas such as mental health, drug addiction and counsellors trained in diversity needs to be in place on a daily basis. I do not believe teachers can teach the curriculum and also deal with all the issues that are present in society today.

6) What role do you see a school trustee playing in today’s educational system?

I feel School Trustees should take the concerns of teachers, parents and students and work with the provincial government to provide funding to make the system work for everyone. I feel that if the resources are put into students in their early years, it will firstly ensure that students are provided the opportunity to foster their self-esteem, and secondly ensure that students are provided the opportunity to reach their best academic level. If these issues are addressed early and throughout their school experience I feel that they would go on to secondary education and issues such as dropout rates and drug addiction could be affected in a positive way.

7) As a trustee you are elected in a specified district but in reality, you are a trustee at large and represent students throughout the division. Can you tell me if you are a rural trustee how would you represent an urban resident or on the other side of the coin if you are an urban trustee how would you represent a rural resident?

Both urban and rural areas are always going to have ongoing issues to deal with as funding is continually changing. I think you have to make sure you understand and respect each other’s issues and concerns they have for their children’s well-being. This could be addressed by rural board members going to urban parent association meetings and vice versa. I believe all parents want the best for students, whether rural or urban.

8) Moose Jaw is in the midst of building a new school on South Hill. Although it is a big accomplishment there has been concerns raised by some residents on various issues regarding the new school. Can you tell me how you would work with the community to ally those fears?

Issues are solved by communication between all parties. I think that a committee could and should be struck which brings representatives from the Separate School Board and their parents, the Public School Board and their parents and of course staff members from both systems. No board should make decisions without that input.

9) What would you like the students to say about their time at school?

I would like students to say that their school was the greatest school and that they had the greatest teachers and that they have been prepared academically, socially, and mentally to face the challenges that lay before them.