EMAIL: joyantab@yahoo.com

PHONE: 416-879-7817

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1. Why are you the best candidate for trustee?
I am fresh, a good listner, a consensus builder, I do not shy away from taking up challenges, enjoy working with people. As a father of my two daughters in public school right now I have similar interest like other parents. I have the sound academic training and diverse work experiences of many years, including 10 years of my stay and work in this community for which we stand together. I will bring new ideas and instill the culture of mutual respects and encourage people to take responsibility of their actions. I strongly belive in education, which is the key to develop social capital.

2. What changes would you like to see at the school board in the next four years?
I want to:
* Build a creative and fruitfull partnership between the School Board, Teachers, Parents and the Community for delivering Quality Education as One within a transparent accountability framework
* Develop a sense of ownership among the Parents, Teachers, Community Leaders and the School Management – that this is our school and we can raise the standard and build it further.
* Transform Trustee’s COMMITMENT to the School more than a part-time job. I would like to see that each Trustee are is reday and committed to make their services available at the earliest possible time. As a self-employed person I have the freedom to manage my time and I commit to make my services available for the School as required.

3. What is your position on the TDSB consolidating under-enrolled schools and selling off closed school properties?
I don’t support the idea that Enrollment will be the only basis of funding formula. We need to assess other fields like community needs, social needs, future growth etc. Selling of closed properties would call for more consultations and proper cost analysis. Personally, I stand against CLOSING SCHOOLS and SELLING SCHOOLS.

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?
School board unionized employees are the blood stream of the system. They are the Teachers, the Teaching Assistants, the Caretakers, the Trade-Personnel. You know as well as I know how important it is to ensure smooth flow blood for human body. I will not support any decision of province without discussion with the unions. As a conscious citizen and an earning member of family I know what financial hardship is, and specially in an environment of economic down turn. In this difficult economic times Provincial authority must take several factors into consideration in its decision making.

5. Please provide personal details on your bio.
* Profession: Real Estate Business
* Marital Status: Married
* Name of Spouse: Mamata Banik
* Children: Two Duaghters. Amrita (13) in Grade EIGHT at Regent Height Public
* School and Purnota (4) in Junior Kintergarden at Okridge Public School.
* Career and Education: * Profession: Real Estate Business
* Marital Status: Married
* Name of Spouse: Mamata Banik
* Children: Two Duaghters. Amrita (13) in Grade EIGHT at Regent Height Public
* School and Purnota (4) in Junior Kintergarden at Okridge Public School.
* Career and Education: I have a long career in the field of journalism. Before immigrating to Canada, I was a staff reporter for Bangladesh National News Agency for 12 years. Upon coming to Canada, I started and worked as the Editor Bangladesh Community Weekly News Paper Bangla News. I also had the pleasure of working as the Project Director for projects on the development Mother and Child Health all over Bangladesh for 13 years funded by the USAID and the ASIA FOUNDATION.