Writer-Citizen DSBN Trustee Candidate Lora Campbell

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.

Lora Campbell is the sixth of the 9 candidates to respond to my questions in full. Lora has been a DSBN trustee for more than 25 years.

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

Lora's Reply:

Over 25 years as a trustee and during that time I worked at City Hall as Administrative Manager to the City Treasurer (I am retired). I have served on all committees of the Board and over the last four years on Finance, Negotiations (staff and teachers), Policy Advisory and Student Discipline.

I was instrumental in getting girls soccer as a girl`s sport (which was not in existence when my daughter (who is an avid soccer player) was attending Laura Secord Secondary School. Being a member of the negotiation`s team for staff and teachers, I am proud to say we have never had a strike and I hope we can continue to work together to achieve this stability in the future.


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

Lora's Reply:

I have been involved in many organizations over the years and for the last several years - to date I am a Commissioner on the St. Catharines Transit Commission and a member on the Paratransit Advisory Board as well as a Director on Education Foundation of Niagara (EFN) and serving as Vice-Chair and Chair of its Board.

I encourage liaison and meetings with our local MPP and Minister of Education to keep them aware of our concerns with adequate funding, etc.

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

Lora's Reply:

The only political ambition I have is to be a trustee and no one contributes to my campaign in any way.


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

Lora's Reply:

I believe our relationship is very good. We agree to disagree and resolve issues in an agreeable manner.


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?

Lora's Reply:

After each election the Ontario Public School Board Association`s (OPSBA) January Conference is geared to workshops which are meant to educate new and old trustees (i.e., parliamentary procedures, code of conduct, conflict of interest, board agendas, finances, legal accountability, etc.). I have attended this particular conference many times. OPSBA also has a Public Education Symposium each year in January which I also attend regularly with workshops that relate to trusteeship training.

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

Lora's Reply:

We need to make sure our house is in order before we attempt to take on another board at this time. As for Ontario as a whole, the Ministry can deal with that.

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

Lora's Reply:

When a decision is made by our Board, I stand by it whether I agree or not. The same with Ministry decisions. MOE is presently reviewing and revising the Accommodation Review process and I look forward to receiving it. I believe our Board is doing everything it can to let our communities know how and why we are spending tax dollars (i.e., our budget is publicly accessible, our Finance meetings are open to the public (except matters that are confidential).

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?

Lora's Reply:

I was not aware we had an issue of this nature. I will contact our Superintendent of Human Resources, Jim Morgan. Our practice is to hire the best qualified person for the position.

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?

Lora's Reply:

Standardizing testing is only one aspect of how we measure a student`s success (it should not be the only way). Our scores can be higher and staff and teachers are working towards this goal and I will support professional development and teacher mentoring to help this happen.

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?

Lora's Reply:

I believe Educational Assistants are a necessity and we need more as our student numbers are increasing. We can achieve this by lobbying MOE for continued increased funding for special education. I have served on our Special Education Advisory Committee in the past and continue to support programs for these students.

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?

Lora's Reply:

I fully support Parent Involvement Committees in each school and I attend their Annual PIC Conference, this year is Nov. 5, 2014. Before I was a trustee I was a parent volunteer at Pine Grove School and attended their School Council meetings (now PIC). Parents were included as a stakeholder when we prepared our Strategic Plan and when we revise it. Also parents are a member of the Accommodation Review Committee process (ARC).

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

Lora's Reply:

www.reelectloracampbell.com

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