At 4 pm today, nominations for election to the Regina Public School Board closed.
I was the only candidate to come forward in this Subdivision.
Therefore, it appears I will be the new trustee for Subdivision 5.
Thank you to all of those who helped out with the campaign in any way. I really appreciate all of your hard work and good wishes.
I will continue to work hard to listen to as many voices as I can in the Subdivision and be responsive to the community.
As always, I would love to hear your ideas, concerns or comments.
Carla
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Update
Thank-you to all who came out on Sunday to drop leaflets and share some pizza and time with us. It was a cold day made all the warmer by good company.
We have distributed most of our leaflets. I officially filed by nomination papers with City yesterday. I am still the only declared candidate for Subdivision 5. Nominations close tomorrow at 4 pm.
I am looking for groups in the Subdivision to talk with to gain insight into what people are focused on. I am always looking for ideas that might be used to improve our schools. I am also interested in input about what people feel is being done well in our system.
Groups need not be large or formal. Let me know if you have ideas, bouquets or concerns you would like raised.
Take care all,
Carla
We have distributed most of our leaflets. I officially filed by nomination papers with City yesterday. I am still the only declared candidate for Subdivision 5. Nominations close tomorrow at 4 pm.
I am looking for groups in the Subdivision to talk with to gain insight into what people are focused on. I am always looking for ideas that might be used to improve our schools. I am also interested in input about what people feel is being done well in our system.
Groups need not be large or formal. Let me know if you have ideas, bouquets or concerns you would like raised.
Take care all,
Carla
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Why I am running for School Board
Below is a letter that I wrote to a trustee on the Regina Board of Education prior to a vote on the current 10-year plan.
I have added it to my blog because I think that it illustrates why I am running for School Board, and why I want to fight to protect and promote schools rooted in neighbourhoods.
Dear (Trustee),
> I am writing to you as a parent of three children, two of whom attend
> Ecole Connaught Community School in the Cathedral Area.
>
> Our children currently walk to and from school. Besides allowing them
> to gain exercise and fresh air and not emitting and carbon, these
> walks allow my children something even more valuable. Walking to
> their small neighbourhood school allows my children, as is does other
> children in the area, to be a vital part of their community.
>
> Our children know their neighbours. Not just on our street, but all
> the way to school. They know the names of the pets of many of our
> neighbours. They know business owners and librarians at the local
> library. They often pick up rubbish and we, on many occasions, have
> stopped to offer help to people along the way. People along the way look out for our kids.
Our children have pride in the community where they live. They are safer because they know the people around them. The neighbourhood is safer because people are out
> walking, noticing what is going on around them.
>
> I know all of the children in both my children's classes. I know most
> of their parents. I know all of the teachers and staff at the
> school. I volunteer a the school frequentlyand I am by no means
> unique. We have a great level of participation at our school and in
> our community. The school and the building that it occupies is a vital
> part of our community, not just for the parents and students but for
> the community as a whole. Our community "works".
>
> Under the 10-year plan, my children would be bused to Massey half-way
> across the city. What I have described above would be lost. It would
> be a loss to us personally to be sure. It would be a loss to the
> students and the community as well. But further, it would be a loss
> to Regina.
>
> All three levels of government are currently realizing that in order
> to meet challenges presented by fuel costs, health measures and the
> reality of global warming, we need to move toward "compact,
> sustainable" Cities. The Board's current plan runs counter to this goal.
>
> The plan targets, however inadvertently, inner city schools and
> schools with relatively high aboriginal populations.
>
> Regina and Saskatchewan as a whole are in a era of population and
> economic growth unparalleled in recent memory. In light of this, the
> provincial government has called upon board's to consider halting
> school closures until the Education Act can be amended.
>
> The projected enrolment numbers contained in the 10-year plan have
> been rendered do inaccurate as to be deemed not credible by many.
>
> Connaught's projected enrolment for the 2007-2008 year alone
> underestimates the student population by nearly 100 students. Census
> date recently released shows that the Cathedral area is projected to
> have increasing more school-age students over the next 10 years. No
> population is growing faster than First Nations families with children
> under five, yet this plan would see many of the schools with the
> highest proportion of First nations children closed.
>
> I recognize that you have difficult decisions ahead of you. Much time
> and money has been put into the Board's current plan. Sometimes
> leadership means admitting when you have started down the wrong course
> and finding the courage to set things right.
>
> Please reconsider.
Our communities need children, not buses.
>
> Sincerely,
> Carla Beck
I have added it to my blog because I think that it illustrates why I am running for School Board, and why I want to fight to protect and promote schools rooted in neighbourhoods.
Dear (Trustee),
> I am writing to you as a parent of three children, two of whom attend
> Ecole Connaught Community School in the Cathedral Area.
>
> Our children currently walk to and from school. Besides allowing them
> to gain exercise and fresh air and not emitting and carbon, these
> walks allow my children something even more valuable. Walking to
> their small neighbourhood school allows my children, as is does other
> children in the area, to be a vital part of their community.
>
> Our children know their neighbours. Not just on our street, but all
> the way to school. They know the names of the pets of many of our
> neighbours. They know business owners and librarians at the local
> library. They often pick up rubbish and we, on many occasions, have
> stopped to offer help to people along the way. People along the way look out for our kids.
Our children have pride in the community where they live. They are safer because they know the people around them. The neighbourhood is safer because people are out
> walking, noticing what is going on around them.
>
> I know all of the children in both my children's classes. I know most
> of their parents. I know all of the teachers and staff at the
> school. I volunteer a the school frequentlyand I am by no means
> unique. We have a great level of participation at our school and in
> our community. The school and the building that it occupies is a vital
> part of our community, not just for the parents and students but for
> the community as a whole. Our community "works".
>
> Under the 10-year plan, my children would be bused to Massey half-way
> across the city. What I have described above would be lost. It would
> be a loss to us personally to be sure. It would be a loss to the
> students and the community as well. But further, it would be a loss
> to Regina.
>
> All three levels of government are currently realizing that in order
> to meet challenges presented by fuel costs, health measures and the
> reality of global warming, we need to move toward "compact,
> sustainable" Cities. The Board's current plan runs counter to this goal.
>
> The plan targets, however inadvertently, inner city schools and
> schools with relatively high aboriginal populations.
>
> Regina and Saskatchewan as a whole are in a era of population and
> economic growth unparalleled in recent memory. In light of this, the
> provincial government has called upon board's to consider halting
> school closures until the Education Act can be amended.
>
> The projected enrolment numbers contained in the 10-year plan have
> been rendered do inaccurate as to be deemed not credible by many.
>
> Connaught's projected enrolment for the 2007-2008 year alone
> underestimates the student population by nearly 100 students. Census
> date recently released shows that the Cathedral area is projected to
> have increasing more school-age students over the next 10 years. No
> population is growing faster than First Nations families with children
> under five, yet this plan would see many of the schools with the
> highest proportion of First nations children closed.
>
> I recognize that you have difficult decisions ahead of you. Much time
> and money has been put into the Board's current plan. Sometimes
> leadership means admitting when you have started down the wrong course
> and finding the courage to set things right.
>
> Please reconsider.
Our communities need children, not buses.
>
> Sincerely,
> Carla Beck
Thursday, September 17.
Greetings all!
The leaflets are ready to go tomorrow. I will be heading out on Thursday at 6:30pm for 2 hours to knock on doors, talk with neighbours and hand out leaflets.
Please, if you are able, consider coming out. Any contribution is welcome.
Email me to let me know if you are able to come Thursday, or at a later date.
carlabeck@sasktel.net
Thnaks!
The leaflets are ready to go tomorrow. I will be heading out on Thursday at 6:30pm for 2 hours to knock on doors, talk with neighbours and hand out leaflets.
Please, if you are able, consider coming out. Any contribution is welcome.
Email me to let me know if you are able to come Thursday, or at a later date.
carlabeck@sasktel.net
Thnaks!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
New Developments Regarding the 10-year Plan
On September 1, the Regina Board of Education met. Items discussed at that meeting included the Budget for the upcoming year and a review of the 10-Year plan.
When the plan was unveiled in November 2007, parents and community members almost immediately started raising concerns about the enrollment projections and the cost estimates associated with the plan. These concerns were largely dismissed.
Well, guess what? It turns out, two years into the plan, that the cost over-runs now sit at over $900,000 and there are more children enrolled in many schools that the 10-year plan had projected. Turns out, mother (and father, and neighbour) really does know best.
This development coupled with the province's surprise decision this spring to take away the ability of School Board's to set their own mill rate puts the 10-year plan in question.
Read more at: www.rbe.sk.ca (PDF versions of 10-year plan review and budget presentation)
www.realrenewal.org
When the plan was unveiled in November 2007, parents and community members almost immediately started raising concerns about the enrollment projections and the cost estimates associated with the plan. These concerns were largely dismissed.
Well, guess what? It turns out, two years into the plan, that the cost over-runs now sit at over $900,000 and there are more children enrolled in many schools that the 10-year plan had projected. Turns out, mother (and father, and neighbour) really does know best.
This development coupled with the province's surprise decision this spring to take away the ability of School Board's to set their own mill rate puts the 10-year plan in question.
Read more at: www.rbe.sk.ca (PDF versions of 10-year plan review and budget presentation)
www.realrenewal.org
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