Trustee pay, SOGI among key issues at SD57 All-Candidates Forum

Several candidates said they would not have supported the increase in its current form.

“I’m not in favor of the 28 per cent,” said Don Sabo, adding he would have supported a smaller increase in the range of 12 to 14 per cent that he described as more fair and financially responsible.

Incumbent trustee Shar McCrory also opposed the decision, saying she regretted that it passed.

Incumbent trustee Sarah Holland said she would not have voted in favour of the increase but acknowledged that trustee compensation is an important consideration for people whose employment may not offer flexible schedules.

Others defended the decision.

Current trustee Erica McLean said she would not change her vote and argued that making trustee pay an election issue gives voters the opportunity to decide whether they agree with the board’s decision.

Barb McNab noted that provincial funding and minimum wage increases have risen by similar amounts over recent years, adding that higher compensation can help attract candidates who do not have other sources of income.

David Low argued that the increase appeared larger than it was because trustee salaries had not been adjusted for several years.

“Twenty-eight per cent sounds like a lot,” Low said, noting that spread over six years, the increase works out to roughly 2.8 per cent annually.

Candidate Laurie Dillman said if elected, she would donate the additional remuneration to a community fund to help residents in need.

While remuneration dominated the discussion, several candidates pointed to other board decisions they would revisit.

Samantha Hermanson criticized the decision to alter the catchment boundaries for DP Todd Secondary School, arguing it contributed to overcrowding without securing anticipated provincial funding for a replacement school.

Hermansen said the school now has hundreds more students than it was designed to accommodate, creating challenges for students moving through hallways and common spaces.

Incumbent trustee Craig Brennan pointed to unfinished policy work as a disappointment from the current board’s term. Brennan said the board had hoped to complete a full review of its policies and bylaws but would fall just short before the end of the mandate.

He highlighted ongoing work to modernize the district’s student code of conduct, describing it as one of the most important policy areas affecting students and staff.

Candidates were also asked about SOGI, which stands for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. SOGI is a collection of resources and guidelines designed to support inclusion and belonging for gender and sexually diverse students.

The majority of candidates who addressed the question voiced support for the resources.

Don Sabo described SOGI as an important part of an overall anti-bullying strategy that helps create safe and inclusive schools for LGBTQ students.

Incumbent trustee Erica McLean said discussions about whether SOGI should exist can sometimes leave gender and sexually diverse students feeling that their right to exist is being debated.

“The intention is to make those feel seen,” she said.

Shar McCrory said the resources help ensure all students feel they belong and give educators tools to reflect the diversity of families within their classrooms.

Sarah Holland said trustees have a responsibility to ensure students, staff and families feel safe, respected and included, adding the district must support staff members who face discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Samantha Hermanson, who said she has an LGBTQ child, expressed support for improving understanding of what SOGI is and is not, while arguing there is currently not enough support available for LGBTQ students in schools.

Incumbent trustee Corey Antrim said he wanted to listen to all perspectives on the issue, stressing that public education should represent everyone in the community.

Questions also touched on curriculum and the role trustees should play in determining educational content.

Candidate Sara Patterson said curriculum decisions should remain with the provincial government rather than individual school boards.

“I don’t believe that the board should have power to change the education as set by the province,” she said, arguing that allowing districts to establish their own curriculums would create inconsistency across the province.

Prince George voters will elect five School District 57 trustees when they head to the polls on October 17.

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Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com

by Adam Berls

Trustee pay, SOGI among key issues at SD57 All-Candidates Forum

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