Writer-Citizen DSBN Trustee Candidate Al Sherwin

Yes, this is a writer blog but I am a citizen with children in the District School Board of Niagara public school system. There has been a woeful lack of coverage of the school board election, so I am using my role as a general busybody and citizen to interview the 9 candidates competing for the 4 seats representing St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Al Sherwin is the third of the 9 candidates to respond to my questions in full.

Question 1. What in your background do you believe prepares you for this public office?

Al's Reply:

After graduation from Brock with a B.Ed degree, I found employment in Manitoba working for the Department of Native Affairs. Working within the government allowed me the opportunity to make radical changes in the way education was administered within the province. Public office is simply the same person trying to improve the application in the spotlight of the public eye. Working in the team environment allows one to express views blending into the best approach to education.

Question 2. What has been your role in community volunteer work, educational activism and politics?

Al's Reply:

As a member of this community, I contribute to several organizations including Rotary, the Community Breakfast Club, school liaisons while an employee of CAA, and my faith community.

Question 3. While local elections are not party-driven, do you have any party affiliations that influence your political ambitions?

Al's Reply:
The simple answer is NO. I have been approached by several groups wanting their commitment to a particular cause/direction, however I have declined because I prefer to be free to determine the best resolution for the DSBN vision.

Question 4. How would you describe the current relationship between elected trustees and hired superintendents? Or, how do you think that relationship should look?

Al's Reply:

Superintendents are there to facilitate the requirements of both the province and the will of the school board. They should have some freedom to make decisions without any encumbrances of the board.

Question 5. The province offers trustees various forms of procedural guidance and training in legal and procedural responsibilities of trustees. Which of these forms of guidance and training will you use and/or participate in to prepare and undertake your role as trustee?

Al's Reply:
As a novice trustee, I will be taking advantage of all the necessary instruction/training. Mindful of the public purse when courses are not available locally or on-line.

Question 6. Where do you stand on the issue of amalgamation of school boards in Niagara and in Ontario as a whole?

Al's Reply:
This would be a wonderful first step to increase the economy of scale in terms of buying services, however, achieving mutual connect will be the most difficult issue.

Question 7. Where do you stand on the issue of provincial oversight of school closure decisions and financial transparency of the DSBN?

Al's Reply:
Remembering that DSBN has a limited budget and can only lobby for more combined with the demographics of the area we as a group have to work within the guidelines dictated by the province. That being said someone from the DSBN has to take the leadership role to change those guidelines in order to maintain local neighbourhood schools.

Question 8.

Among members of the public, there appears to be a problem with nepotism in the hiring of teachers in the board. Will you look into this issue and, if so, what would you do?

Al's Reply:
This was reason I was forced to seek employment elsewhere. The scenario; "It's who you know, or who's related to you"; has to stop. Merit should be one of the determining factors.

Question 9. The EQAO results in the DSBN are rather troubling, but standardized testing in general is a controversial issue. What do you think of our students' results on the EQAO and about the role of standardized testing overall?

Al's Reply:
Standardizing testing should only be used a guideline for improvement as answered above.

Question 10. Many members of the public are concerned about the level of support for students with special needs. They have also expressed concern about the continuity of staff assigned to particular individuals and the job security of those staff members. What is your position on how the DSBN is doing supporting students who have special needs and the role of Educational Assistants in providing that support?

Al's Reply:

Students with special needs should be respected and at all costs supported by the DSBN in their endeavours. This matter will require more attention on my part to understand all that's involved in this issue.

Question 11. What do you believe is the role of the trustee in supporting participatory democracy and the role of parents in school board operations?

Al's Reply:

As parents you are one of the major stakeholders in the education system. This your concerns should be addressed at the committee level where "the rubber meets the road".

Question 12. Additionally, please provide links to your web site and/or Facebook page and twitter handle.

Al's Reply:

As an old school graduate and aware of the 21st century electronics Facebook/Twitter et al is not one of my strengths. Once elected a website to exchange ideas will certainly be a necessity.

This post reflects whom I've decided to endorse and this summary post explains why. As usual, here is a list of all the candidate information posts I wrote to cover the race:

Ajandi, Jennifer

Atamanyk, Gary

Bradnam, Alex

Campbell, Lora

Christie, Adam

Crouch, Linda

Fast, Jonathan

Longhurst, Eva

Sherwin, Al