Barry Stewart PSSD Trustee Candidate - Subdivision Six (Moose Jaw)
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your questions and I would also acknowledge we are on Treaty 4 territory, and the traditional homeland of the Metis.
1. Why have you chosen to run for a school board trustee?
I think all of us wear a number of hats within our community and specifically in regard to education; almost all of us have gone through some form of formal education, many of us are parents and some are now grandparents. Many of us are also ratepayers and some of us have or are working directly in the PreK-12 education system. So, the easy answer is that I have a passion for education and want to see Prairie South students reach their full potential.
2. What qualifications do you bring to the board if elected - these may include degrees etc but also life lessons as well?
For the past 22 years, I worked in a senior administrative role in the PreK-12 education sector; first as the Information Technology Manager and then for the last three years as the Transportation Manager with the Prairie South School Division until my retirement in August of this year. I represented the families of Prairie South on numerous provincial committees and think tanks over that period and served as the Director of Information Technology with the Saskatchewan Association of School Business Officials. This experience has provided me with intimate knowledge of the PreK-12 education sector not only in Prairie South but provincially. During my time with Prairie South my record shows that I was able to consistently reduce operational costs in both the IT and Transportation Departments while at the same time increasing service levels provided to students, teachers, support staff and parents. Since I have recently retired, serving as trustee gives me an opportunity to continue to contribute to the families and staff of Prairie South.
3. Why should people vote for you?
Having worked in the sector for 22 years I believe I have a unique set of knowledge, understanding, skills, and experience. I also believe that contributions to our community outside one’s work career often reflects that person’s passion and interests. I have spent most of my life contributing much of my personal time to the youth of our city and surrounding area, and provincially as a coach, referee, executive board member, teacher, and mentor in lacrosse, hockey, baseball, soccer, and ringette. Continuing education after grade 12 is also a priority and to that end our family established a scholarship in our late son’s name to help students pursue post-secondary education.
I think one of the most important assets I have to offer voters is being married to a career educator. My wife worked for 30 years as a Teacher, Consultant and School Administrator in Prairie South before she retired. I worked on the support side of the division so having a spouse that could relate to me the challenges, concerns, issues, and successes from the “front lines” has provided me with an invaluable perspective. My social circles include many friends that are life-long educators and the conversations and insights they provide are invaluable in helping me understand PreK-12 education.
4. What do you see as the biggest challenge in education today?
The most pressing issue affecting everyone involved in the PreK-12 education sector is the effects of COVID-19. I speak to many current Prairie South educators, school administrators, and support staff the response I inevitably get when I ask, “how are things going this year?” is the same; “We are in survival mode!” Teachers and support staff are tapped out. They are all doing exemplary work dealing with the fallout of COVID-19 and the impact it is having on staff, students, and parents. When I dig down a little deeper many of them feel they simply cannot meet the core needs of their students, they have too many additional duties, primarily supervision and cleaning to try and maintain a safe classroom and schoolyard. This sentiment is echoed by support staff and other departments as well. This is perhaps the single biggest issue currently facing the division and one I feel needs to be addressed sooner than later.
5. Schools are changing with a very diverse student body - such as those of different races, languages, cultures, disabilities, sexual orientation, varying faiths, economic standing and others - how would you make the school system better so that everyone had not just the same opportunity but a fair and equitable opportunity to reach their full potential?
As school communities, we are microcosms of a bigger society and our world indeed reflects that diversity. To me, our children and youth are the powerful teachers within this context. The pure unconditional acceptance and indeed the embracing of this diversity is readily recognized in the faces of the students in our classrooms. This does not mean that it is an easy task for the educator in the room to meet these diverse needs. I believe that together we need to provide the supports necessary for the front line in meeting this ever-present need to build inclusive attitudes and beliefs in our school communities and in doing so we will have a positive impact on the larger community.
6. What role do you see a school trustee playing in today's educational system?
The model currently used in the Saskatchewan PreK-12 education system is a governance model. As such, the underlying role of a trustee and the Board of Education is to work with the division’s senior administrative team to develop and set policies that are then implemented across the division. Boards of Education only have one employee they are responsible for and that is the Director of Education. The development of short- and long-term strategic plans, setting priorities, and developing budgets to meet those priorities is also a critical part of a trustee’s tasks. Perhaps one of the most important responsibilities of a trustee is to meet and discuss issues, concerns, and successes with constituents and stakeholders. Representing the views of different groups and individuals is critical in making solid, data-based policy decisions. Some of the key groups that trustees meet with include; SCC (School Community Councils), PSTA (Prairie South Teachers Association), CUPE, OOS (Out Of Scope staff), MLA’s, city of Moose Jaw representatives, Rural Municipality representatives, individual parents/families, etc.
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?
I believe this is an area I hold a significant advantage over some candidates. I have worked directly with the students, parents, teachers, school administration, SCC’s, CUPE and OOS support staff, MLA’s, RM’s, city officials, etc. in both the urban and rural areas of Prairie South. I have an excellent working relationship with these groups and a level of trust has been established. I have a network of groups and key contacts throughout the division and across the province and I feel this is a significant advantage in being able to advocate for the students of Prairie South.
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 would you work with the community to ally those fears?
Knowing that no decision will make everyone happy is understood but I believe trustees can assist in making it positive for the majority and/or reduce the negative impacts. I think it is important to remember that the current location was not one of the original locations that Prairie South/Holy Trinity/Ministry of Education was looking at. It was proposed at one of the open house meetings by an interested member of the community. I believe that indicates that the community was invited to become involved and had a direct impact in the final location decision. As the former Transportation Manager, I provided an incredible amount of data in regards to bussing to/from each of the proposed locations on South Hill to the decision-makers and that was just one piece of information that was looked at. In the end it is the Ministry of Education that has the final say but I believe that trustees play a critical role in talking with local community members, staff, and others to see what issues and concerns there are and then advocate on behalf of those stakeholders.
9. What would you like the students to say about their time at school?
It would be wonderful to hear every student say that they enjoyed their time here and that they received a quality education that prepared them for life after school.