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1. Why are you the best candidate for trustee?
I am a full time Trustee. I have 24 years of experience, engagement and knowledge of the system. I live in the ward. My children and grand children attended Ward 16 schools. I spend 12 hours a day/5 days a week on the job, because I can. I love my work and I am good at it. I get pleasure solving those problems that the system throws at parents and students. I like to use that knowledge to ensure that those same problems do not cause trouble for others. Creating new programmes that meet evolving issues is exhilarating and rewarding.

2. What changes would you like to see at the school board in the next four years?
I would like to see more parental engagement in our schools. Through my continued Environmental work at the Board and in the Ward, I would like to see the “Our Green Future” initiative take root in every school community. I would like to see the Model Schools for Inner Cities programme reach all children living in deep poverty. I would like to see the Province fully fund the Vision and Hearing programme. I would like to see a functioning solar programme which will pump cash from the FIT programme into Board coffers.

3. What is your position on the TDSB consolidating under-enrolled schools and selling off closed school properties?
Short-sighted and misguided! While every school does not need to be used as a school at this time, letting real estate dribble away as though it were a problem rather than an asset is madness to me! I blame the Province for dragging the red herring of “excess space” about. They know that Toronto will grow in population by a million people in the next 10 to 15 years and that there will be children needing schooling within that million. How will we deal with All-Day Kindergarten and Community Hubs if we sell off our flexible space?

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?
Much to my chagrin, I cannot comment on labour negotiations because my daughter is a secondary teacher with the TDSB. I do not believe that it is a conflict of pecuniary interest but they do, and they can throw me out of my job if I comment on, or engage in any negotiations. Sorry…

5. Please provide personal details on your bio.
I was first elected in 1972. After 6 terms, I took a brief sabbatical from Trustee-ing. I ran again in 2000 because I was infuriated with what Harris was doing. I was then elected for 2 more terms. I attend all Standing Committees because they are important to me. I like to understand what is really going on and I find that reading reports is simply not enough – I like to question staff about their reports. I am deeply committed to our Advisory Committees because they are the way that we keep our communities engaged in what we do…