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Preston tries for third term

Threat of school closures sparks renewed interest in school board activity
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Bill Preston ... ongoing issues to complete

Incumbent Bill Preston is running to keep his school board seat for Area F, Errington-Coombs, known as Arrowsmith, he pointed out.

The two-time trustee is running again because there are a number of ongoing issues including the introduction of personalized learning for the 21st Century, which he described as “helping kids become aware of their interests and abilities and help them design their own learning plan.”

He said there are what he called PL21 programs being developed on a provincial level that will help deepen children’s learning.

 

He said many teachers are already doing those kinds of things and programs are being designed at a provincial level.

He is also looking forward to the community dialogue process around school facilities.

“We obviously got off on the wrong foot,” he said of the way the possibility of school closures came up.

“I feel bad that so many people got caught up in that fear,” he said and stressed, “the board has never suggested we were going to go that way, that was one report the board accepted for information.

“I personally, as a trustee, am not interested in closing any schools,” he said but added there will be tough decisions to make.

The good news, he said, is that it sparked a lot more local interest in education and the district is going to need everyone’s help to face funding challenges and generate more revenue.

“I hope the new board is able to find a number of new ways to engage all the interested people.”