Julie Austin announced her candidacy for the position of school trustee for Errington/Area F in the Nov. 19 school district election.
She is running as part of the Oceanside Communities for Quality Education (OCQE) “team” of candidates but like each of them is running on her own platform.
Austin said her five children’s educational experiences led to her getting more involved in the education system.
“My kids’ educational journeys have included distance learning, home-schooling, un-schooling and schools. They have taken me along for an exciting ride into the world of contemporary education.”
While she got more involved through the OCQE over the last year she said she was eventually inspired to run by “watching the present school board in action.”
“There’s an opportunity for some great things to happen but we need people with a fresh vision to push forward.”
She said the current board and staff approach things from the negative, glass half empty perspective and they need some glass half full people to work on positive initiatives like the organic food movement, alternative energy and environmental studies going on at Kwalikum Secondary School.
“I believe our schools must be grounded in the communities in which they reside. Ideally they nurture our children on an individual path of discovery, knowledge acquisition, understanding and wisdom.”
She said the educational system is in the process of profound change that requires the active engagement of the entire community.
She said that while the threat of a KSS closure was a catalyst, getting many people involved in the politics of education, it is important to keep all the schools in perspective as crucial hubs at the centre of their communities.
Read about more candidates in
Tuesday’s News.