We asked Ward 8 school trustee candidates to imagine they were back in school when they answered these questions

Article content

Our team of journalists put each school trustee candidate to the test with a series of questions on the issues facing education in Calgary in this election.

Halfway through the questionnaire, we handed the floor over to a group of journalism students at Mount Royal University who asked the candidates to imagine they were back in grade school when answering the questions. They designed the questions to get a better sense of who the candidates are. 

Public school trustee candidates

Richard Hehr

What is the biggest issue facing the schools in your district?

Hehr – Over 50 per cent of Calgary public schools are over 50 years of age. They require over $1-billion in modernization improvements and for the most part they were needed yesterday. There are schools in my neighbourhood and all across Wards 8/9 that need repairs and updates.

What is the first thing that you will seek to do as trustee to improve the quality of education and student performance in Calgary schools? 

Hehr – Calgary Public is dependent upon the Alberta Government for its funds. The economic downturn has exacerbated financial concerns. Issues such as school fees and busing are being impacted by the price of oil. Despite this downturn, education must continue to be a priority for Albertans. A child’s education cannot be put on hold until the price of oil rebounds.

Changes in the transportation system created problems for many parents and students this year, especially at alternative schools. How would you seek to resolve those problems as trustee? 

Hehr – Calgary continues to grow. Calgary needs more schools. Calgary needs them now. Trustees must unite to ensure that children throughout Calgary have easy access to community schools and alternative programs. I believe it is time for the Calgary Public School System and the Calgary Catholic School System to integrate their busing programs in an effort to create greater efficiency and reduce costs for both systems.

You suddenly find yourself back in grade school. You have all of your grown-up life experience, but you’re moving around the school in a young person’s body. You’re in Grade 1 and Halloween is fast approaching. Which costume do you wear to school and why? 

Hehr – I would wear my Elvis costume. In a previous life I had numerous gigs as an Elvis impersonator – so I’d not only have the gear, but the skills to pay the bills this Hallows-eve.

How time flies. You’re in Grade 9. Your teacher is insisting you vote for which school club to cut because there’s a shortage of teachers to run the clubs. Which one gets the thumbs down? 

Hehr – Chess club

Explain your decision, please.

Hehr – Let me tell you a story from last week. I was playing chess with my grandson and he said – let’s make this interesting. So we stopped playing chess.

You’re in high school. You realize that one of your friends has been bullying another student because of his sexual orientation. You go to a teacher about the need to start a Gay Straight Alliance club, but her reception is lukewarm. You can tell she’s not going to help. How are you going to make this happen? 

Hehr – I would start it anyway. The statistics are clear: in schools where there are Gay Straight Alliances versus where there are none, a UBC study showed that there was 50 per cent decline in suicidal ideation amongst LGBTQ youths – and heterosexual male students as well. Students should be able to associate freely with one another, and support one another. The first step would be to, of course, gather students, and particularly support my bullied friend.

It is nearing the end of the tenth grade and marijuana has been legalized for a little over a month. You and a few other students learn that a teacher smokes a lot of cannabis at home. Do you think she should be held to a different standard when it comes to her recreation?

Hehr – If marijuana is legal the adult teacher has every right to comply with the law and access those opportunities.

Merle Terlesky

What is the biggest issue facing the schools in your district?

Terlesky – By far, busing is a huge issue, as many parents I speak to are not happy at all all with how their kids are bused to school. Furthermore, I don’t think one can say you are an accessible trustee, if all board meetings are at noon on a weekday. Hence why I promise to have town hall meetings every three months in both Wards 8 and 9 to hear and respond to parents concerns within the CBE.

What is the first thing that you will seek to do as trustee to improve the quality of education and student performance in Calgary schools? 

Terlesky – First try and redirect the over $150-million that is spent on admin and put some of that back in CBE schools. Also an immediate return to “report cards” so parents have a clearer understanding of their child’s progress.

Changes in the transportation system created problems for many parents and students this year, especially at alternative schools. How would you seek to resolve those problems as trustee? 

Terlesky – By finding cost-saving measures in the CBE admin and thus reintroducing the cut services back into the bus system.

You suddenly find yourself back in grade school. You have all of your grown-up life experience, but you’re moving around the school in a young person’s body. You’re in Grade 1 and Halloween is fast approaching. Which costume do you wear to school and why? 

Terlesky – Clown, as I think its fun and scary at the same time.

How time flies. You’re in Grade 9. Your teacher is insisting you vote for which school club to cut because there’s a shortage of teachers to run the clubs. Which one gets the thumbs down? 

Terlesky – Chess club

Explain your decision, please.

Terlesky – Chess can be played anywhere at anytime and does not really need supervision as much.

You’re in high school. You realize that one of your friends has been bullying another student because of his sexual orientation. You go to a teacher about the need to start a Gay Straight Alliance club, but her reception is lukewarm. You can tell she’s not going to help. How are you going to make this happen? 

Terlesky – In order to start any club of interest, if the teacher was a no I would go further up the chain, and go directly to the school principal, and also maybe email my CBE trustee for advice

It is nearing the end of the tenth grade and marijuana has been legalized for a little over a month. You and a few other students learn that a teacher smokes a lot of cannabis at home. Do you think she should be held to a different standard when it comes to her recreation?

Terlesky – If its legal its legal, so what could I do?

Sabrina Bartlett is also running for public school trustee in Ward 8. She did not respond to the questionnaire by the deadline. 

Separate school trustee candidates

Lory Iovinelli

What is the biggest issue facing the schools in your district?

Iovinelli – Each year school boards face issues. Maintaining and ensuring a balanced budget is crucial in addressing basic issues such as enhancing student academic excellence, a safe and caring learning environment and teacher development.

What is the first thing that you will seek to do as trustee to improve the quality of education and student performance in Calgary schools? 

Iovinelli – As a campaigning trustee I have been logging questions and concerns of the voting members of Wards 6 and 8. I appreciate all the questions and concerns received, and, if elected, I would bring them to the awareness of the trustees of the CCSD so that thy may be addressed accordingly. The quality of education can only be improved if those who govern and advocate for education are aware of the needs and concerns of the public.

Changes in the transportation system created problems for many parents and students this year, especially at alternative schools. How would you seek to resolve those problems as trustee? 

Iovinelli – CCSD students who live 1.2 kilometres from the school are granted busing in Grades K-6. Junior and high cchool students taking Calgary Transit do so at a reduced rate. By doing so, all CCSD students are transported to and from school efficiently and safely thus resolving transportation problems.

You suddenly find yourself back in grade school. You have all of your grown-up life experience, but you’re moving around the school in a young person’s body. You’re in Grade 1 and Halloween is fast approaching. Which costume do you wear to school and why? 

Iovinelli – At a Catholic School Halloween is celebrated by wearing something either orange or black. I would wear an orange t-shirt that reads: “Got Candy?” because it is appropriate of the season.

How time flies. You’re in Grade 9. Your teacher is insisting you vote for which school club to cut because there’s a shortage of teachers to run the clubs. Which one gets the thumbs down? 

Iovinelli – Chess club

Explain your decision, please.

Iovinelli – In order to maintain a safe and caring learning environment, none of the clubs should get the thumbs down if there is interest shown. Each group should be represented if the need exists.

You’re in high school. You realize that one of your friends has been bullying another student because of his sexual orientation. You go to a teacher about the need to start a Gay Straight Alliance club, but her reception is lukewarm. You can tell she’s not going to help. How are you going to make this happen? 

Iovinelli – I would gather a group of students interested in starting a Gay Straight Alliance Club and attempt to approach the teacher again. If the reception continues to be lukewarm I would proceed with my intentions to the school guidance counsellor or part of the school administration team.

It is nearing the end of the tenth grade and marijuana has been legalized for a little over a month. You and a few other students learn that a teacher smokes a lot of cannabis at home. Do you think she should be held to a different standard when it comes to her recreation?

Iovinelli – What a teacher does on his and her own time should not be addressed at school unless it comes into conflict with his/her teaching practice. Teachers are role models to students and hopefully would hopefully acknowledge that special, sacred position and thus act accordingly.

Christopher McMillan is also running for separate school trustee in Ward 6. He did not respond to the questionnaire by the deadline.