MEET THE
ANDIDATE

11 people chase school board, RD seats here

WHEN VOTERS go into the booth on Satur-
day, Noy. 16 they’ll be forced to choose from a
long list of names.

In all, nine candidates are running for the Ter-
tace and Thornhill seats on the new amalgamated
Coast Mountain School District.

And two more are seeking the Thornhill chair
on the Kitimat-Stikine Regional District board,

Here are profiles and statements from each of
the local school board and regional district candi-
dates to help you decide who to mark the X for
when the time comes.

The seven candidates for the three Terrace scats
on school board are on this page.

The two candidates for the Thornhill seat on
school board, plus the two candidates for the
Thomhill regional district director’s seat, are on

Page Ab.

Also on Thursday night, Oct, 24th, the candi-
dates om these pages will be on stage at the
R.E.M. Lee Theatre to answer your questions.

The all candidates forum, which starts at 7:00
p.m., is organized by the Standard in conjunction
with the Terrace Times and Skeena Broadcasters,

Gordon Oates will be the moderator, and
voluntecrs from Terrace Toastmasters are assist-
ing.

The format will allow for both written questions
from the audience, questions from a media panel,
and questions from people at open mictophones.

Everyone’s welcome to attend. If you aren't
able to be there, Cable 10 volunteers plan to
broadcast the forum live on the local community
channel,

STEW CHRISTENSEN Terrace trustee

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 23, 1996 - AS

MARJ BROWN Terrace trustee

~

Marj Brown is looking for

a more open school board

. Structure, which she says
would lead to a qreater
respect for a variety of
opinions. —

She thinks there should
be financial accountability
at every level, including the
schools,

Brown is in favour of an
open bidding process to
select a new superiniend-
ent, and says there are alter-
natives to expensive
severance packages.

a Age: 49. In Terrace for
six years. Moved here from
Hazelton.

@ Occupation: Ex-teacher.

gm Family: Three children -
one is age 12, the other age 16, and the third is
at UBC. They are First Nations students, and
have been in French immersion and the gifted
program.

@ Organizations: Parent Advisory
Committees for last 10-12 years in Hazelton
and Terrace. Headed Terrace district PAC in
93/94. President of Ksan Housing Society.

Marj Brown

Statement:

Since moving to Terrace in 1989 [
have been an executive member with
Parent Advisory Councils and the Ksan
Housing Society. My. jobs included:
fundraising, organizing special events,
lobbying school board committees and
Serving on school accreditation
committecs,

T have ittended provincial confer-
ences an youth violence and secondary
schools. This exposure at these confer-
ences enabled me to learn about our
school sysiem, changes in curriculum,
the budget and the fiscal framework,
mainstreaming of special needs students
and insight as to how other districts are
rum.

I believe in a community approach
to problems affecting students, a con-
sullative decision making model and
tesponsible use of education resources to give full
tax dollar value.

My goals are: quality education for al! students,
a common vision with all partner groups and one
unified district with respect and equal treatment for
everyone,

With innovalive management, we can build a
strong, successful school district:

5 MAE DERRICK Terrace trustee

Getting past amalgamation,
and focussing on the needs of
the students fs top priority for
Stew Christensen. He's run-
ning for a 4th term as trustee.

Christensen wants to keep
Terrace's superintendent as
the CEO of the new district,
and says it doesn't make
sense to pay out big
severance costs, when the
contract of Kitimat’s acting
superintendent expires in just
over a month.

@ Age: 54 years. Lived here
most of the last 20 years.

m@ Occupation: Director of
Engineering for the city of
Terrace for over 9 years. Worked
22 years for highways ministry.

@ Family: Wife Marilynn is a homemaker.
Two sons have both gone through school sys-
tem here. Now wants grandchildren to have
best possible education.

mg Organizations: Chair of the Skeena
Union Board of Health. Member of Rotary Club.
Elder at the Evangelical Free Church.

‘Stew Christensen

Statement:

| am prepared to take a ) strong
stand toward ensuring the excellence
in programs established in School
District 88 are maintained.

We will have to do this despite a
$1.6 million reduction in our budget
next year,

1 will continue to take leadership
in the very difficult task of amalga-
mation and this will require us to
review and possibly reorganize our
administrative structure.

We must have cooperation of all
communities to put students’ welfare
first in all decisions. The communi-
ties have requested a more open and
a consultative approach and | will work

toward having all commiitee meet-
ings open to the public.

‘Twill continue to work with stakeholders on a
consultative decision-making process.

We have made good progress on Fist Nations
initiatives and [ will continue to support local edu-
cation agreements and monitoring of 1:31 funds, ©

For these reasons I seek your support on Nov.
16.

r

Mae Derrick is seeking
a first term as a trustee.
She wants to help create
an open and accessible
board, with as much com-
munity involvement as
possible.

Derrick is in favour of a
consensus-styie approach
to decision making.

m Age: 44 years. Lived in
Terrace for seven years and
in the northwest for 22.

m Occupation: First
Nations Coordinator at
NWCC. Was Gitanyow band

Statement: oo

As a board member [ would:

1. Bring nearly 20 years experience in
boards, committees and various positions
within education systems, and perspec-
tives drawn from these experiences,

2. Actively work to achieve a more
open and accessible decision-making pro-
cess within the school beard structures,

3. Keep school construction in Terrace
a major priority and ensure consultation.

4, Conlinuc to work in the area of First
Nations education.

5. Promote the value of second lan-
guage experience. { am willing to work on
Simalgax and heritage language policy,

manager. Taught cultural
awareness at elementary
school level.

m@ Family: Married to Elmer. Has three child-
ren, one at Clarence Michiel, one at Caledonia
and one at UNBC.

@ Organizations: Gitanyow band council,

Gitanyow Independent School boafd: Former « “
-. wends which itnpact the education system: <i)‘:

board member of Terrace daycare.céntre and
Terrace Child Development Centre. Founding
member of First Nations education committee.

Mae Derrick

6. Promote post-secondary cducalion
and life-long learning.
7. Work collaboratively with agencies that work
with families and pre-school children,

8. Focus on student success and work at leveling
the playing ficld to make success a reality for all
children.

‘9; Be ‘aware of technological and “economic

10. Encourage all-parents to be involved in the
education of their children.

JOHN JENSEN | Terrace trustee

ROGER LECLERC Terrace trustee

John Jensen sees a time of
opportunity with the combining of
the two boards. He’s seeking eiec-
tion because he hasn't been “total-
ly pleased” with the current board.

One of his strongest assets is
his negotiating skilis, he says, and
he has a very good understanding
of labour law and collective
agreements.

He hopes to be able to serve the
community through his work on the
board, if elected,

@ Age: 66 years. Lived in Terrace
for 95 years.

m Occupation: Retired iast year as.
business agent for Carpenter’s Union.
Taught labour studies at NWCC,

B Organizations: Very active in
Carpenter's Union — was vice-presi-
dent at the provincial level. Long time
President of NW Carpenter's Union
District Council, President of the
Kitimat-Terrace labour council for approx. 15
years. Charter member of the Terraceview
committee.

John Jensen

Statement:

Tam secking the office of
trustee, believing that it is
time for me to start paying
back tc the community thal
gave me and my family a
good living and was a won-
derful place to raise children.

If elected I will bring to the
position of trustee 35 years of
experience in negotiations,
problem solving and commit-
tee work.

T have a proven record of
being able to work with people
of different opinions from oth-
er communities, while being
cognizant of whom [ represent.

My commitment to a scheol
board that is open and transpar-
ent is absolutg. No closed door
meetings, no “wiser than cve-
ryone else” attitude. Rather J will strive to find new
ways and vehicles allowing input and advice from
students, parents, icachers and administration.

LAURIE MITCHELL Terrace trustee

Roger Leclerc is running for a
second term as trustee. He wants
to continue working on projects
he's started, such as a communica-
tions committee. This committee
would be an open forum for all sta-
keholder groups to deal with issues
specific to individual schools.

He’s concerned about a reduc-
tion In the joint budget of the new
district, and wants to minimize the
Impact it will have on students.

Lecterc also wants to work on
improving the quality of education.

m@ Age: 46 years. Born in Terrace,
lived here most of his life.

_ Hf Occupation: Manager at
Interconnect for last five years. Owned
business for 15 years. Also worked for
labour market committee and at extension ser-
vices at NWCC.

mi Family: Married to Carol. Have two child-
ren at Skeena and one at Veritas.

m Organizations: Served one term on
school board, and four years on the Veritas
(Catholic Church} school board. Was chair of
Veritas board for two years.

Roger Leclerc

Statement:

I'm interested in running
for the school board for a
second term in office because [
believe there js a real need to
work on student success within
the school system. It is very
important that all students have
an equal opportunity for suc-
cessful completion of their
education.

I feel that there are new
challenges with amalgamation
and I could contribute to a
smoother transition by bringing
in my past experiences.

In the past [ have been
involved in promoting more
open communication within
the scheol district and the community and would
like to sec this continue.

It is very important that the new school board
have trustees with experience who are open and
willing to work with the schools and communily to
improve the quality of life for our students.

On Nov. 16 vote for somcone who will work for
you, vote Roger Leclerc,

HAL STEDHAM Terrace trustee

Laurie Mitchell Is seeking a
third term as trustee. She thinks
high school students should
have access to a higher level of
skills training, and more appren-
ticeship programs.

She’s hoping the new board
can focus more on what's gaod
for kids, and less on “‘in-fighting
between the grownups.”

Mitcheli says there’s been
enough change in the schools
changes to provincial bargain-
ing, the curriculum and now
amalgamation. She wants to

Statement:

I believe “the kids come first!”’

I understand that all students
have different strengths and weak-
nesses, therefore, we must provide
them with the best possible learn-
ing environment while remaining
fiscally responsible,

Trustees need to help create
and maintain stability in the sys-
tem, to improve overall literacy
and numeracy skills and lo encour-
age students to stay In schoo!
which is a safe and caring learning
environment, that understands the

keep Terrace’s superintendent
since he understands the
dynamics of the area, and could help
ensure a smooth transition.

mw Age: 35 years. Lived in Terrace since the
late 1970s.

Occupation: Automotive accountant.
Owned bookkeeping firm.

@ Family: Husband Scott, daughter is in
grade 11 at Caledonia.

M@ Organizations: Formerly chair of
Thomhill Primary PAC,. was involved in Guides
and Scouts, and youth bowling.

Laurie Mitchell

needs of the individual student,
and recognizes the challenges of
the group.

In the next millennium, students will require dif-
ferent skills to gain entry into the job matket. They
should have the tools which -will help them be pre-
pared for further’ education, and training which may
not be university,

I believe these goals can be achieved by building
stroiger partnerships with the siakeholder groups,
and by éncouraging reflective problem solving at all
levels through discussion and . collaborative
interaction.

A LONG involvement with
schools Is what Hal Stedham
feels Is his best asset as a
trustee. His specialty is
improving schools that got a
bad rating from the ministry.

Stedham favours a consul-
tative style of management,
and says the new board
should review the perfor-
mance of the administration
in both Terrace and Kitimat.
He's willing to consider an
open selection process for
superintendent.

@ Age: 54 years. Lived here
one year, previously in the Nass

Valley. Hal Stedham

@ Occupation: Principal at
Haisla Elementary School in Kitamaat Village.
Formerly principal at Nisga'a Elementary-
Secondary in New Aiyansh,

M@ Family: Three daughters — one teaching
at Skeena and the other two at post-secondary
institutions.

m@ Organizations: History as an active
coach with school sports, Previously an alder-
man in Kettle Vailey,

Statement:

lam running for schoal trustee for
the following reasons:

1. My background, credentials and
experience as a parent, teacher and
adininistraior have prepared me well
for this opportunity.

2. [| am pro-student. To clarify:
Conditions must be created in schools
to alfow students to reach their maxi-
munt potential.

3. | believe that to create the
ultimate Icarning situation, the best
possible teachers must be hired,

4. In my opinion, to function al
their maximum Jevel of performance,
teachers must have strong leadership
and good working conditions,

5, Local talent must be encouraged
and developed as master (eachers and future Ieaders,

6 The support and confidence of parents must be
earned,

7. In matters that significantly effect a group -
the group must have input into the decision making
process. ‘To conclude, our goal must be to create the
best possibie school disirict. [hope to be able to
make a valuable contribution to that process.