WEBSITE: david.smith4trustee.com

EMAIL: david_smith6970@yahoo.ca

PHONE: 416-751-7546

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1. Why are you the best candidate for trustee?
As I continue to meet with the people throughout our community I have become more concerned with erosion of the Toronto District School Board and its programs in Scarborough Centre Ward 19; Programs and resources such as adult education, ESL, textbooks, computer labs, French Immersion and nutritional programs. I am the best candidate as I have actually been in the community listening to the concerns of Ward 19. I am approachable; I listen to the needs of the community and pledge that I will act on your needs and concerns.

2. What changes would you like to see at the school board in the next four years?
* Listen to You – Create regular communication by holding bimonthly ward meetings, meet with all our school councils and maintain a local office.
* Focus on Student Achievement – EQAO scores report that our kids are not becoming better readers or better at math. We must reverse this now.
* Fix our Buildings – Our schools are falling apart. $200 million is needed right now. I will invest in our schools.
* Stop the Squabbling – Work in partnership with the city and province to improve community use of schools and pools
* Deliver the Needed Resources – From crayons to science labs our students deserve the best

3. What is your position on the TDSB consolidating under-enrolled schools and selling off closed school properties?
I do not believe that we should be selling off important school assets as the population of Scarborough Centre expands and contracts in the coming years. We need to develop partnerships with community agencies and other levels of government to deliver a full menu of services to our whole community using school buildings as the centre of our neighbourhoods.

4. Do you support the province’s decision to try to negotiate two-year, no wage increase contracts with the school board’s unionized employees when existing agreements expire?
The next cycle of contract negotiations needs to follow the approved and previously established collective bargaining process. The parties need to sit down and carefully negotiate a new contract to avoid any disruption in the classroom.

5. Please provide personal details on your bio.
As the CEO of Vision Accounting and Consultant Services I have extensive experience in providing financial and budgetary advice to an array of organizations. Within our community I have been a mentor to youth; raised funds for, and the setting up of after school football program for students; coached soccer; and assisted in after school enrichment programs. As a previous Vice President of the Caricom Cultural Association we worked to establish educational programs for immigrants and seniors. Within the Toronto District School Board I participated with Anti-GST initiative that advocated for 100% reimbursement of school board GST payments.