WEBSITE: www.electsheilaward.com

PHONE: 416-540-1991

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1. Why are you the best candidate for trustee?
The Trustee position on the TDSB is not an entry level job. It requires:
* an understanding of how complex organizations work
* skill in problem solving with parents who’s child is experiencing difficulties at school;
* negotiating skills in dealing with staff and other trustees, all of whom have their own priorities
* judgment in dealing with other bodies such as the government, city council, police, and community agencies
I believe I have demonstrated these skills over the 13 years I have been a trustee and my hope is constituents will agree and will vote to re-elect me.

2. What changes would you like to see at the school board in the next four years?
My top priorities are:
* increased use of technology throughout the TDSB, from classroom to the business office
* determining how demands on principals have changed and evaluating whether our professional development is adequate for principals’ needs today.
* improving our interventions against bullying and the effectiveness of actions we take against it
* ensuring all students are exposed to the arts throughout school
* continuing to focus on improving literacy and numeracy skills for students

3. What is your position on the TDSB consolidating under-enrolled schools and selling off closed school properties?
I don’t like closing schools and I don’t like selling them and the property they stand on. However, as long as the funding formula rules, and it does, we have no choice if we want to deal with our $3.8 billion backlog of deferred maintenance nor do we have a choice if we are to build new schools where needed – and they are needed all across the Board. Given these circumstances, my first goal is to ensure we get the best deal possible and that we close only those schools clearly excessive to our needs. A second goal is to work with the provincial government to find better ways to deal with land and schools that may be surplus only for a period of time.

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?
This is within the provincial government’s jurisdiction and I will not speculate on something that may or may not happen sometime in the future and which is beyond my control.

5. Please provide personal details on your bio.
Born in Toronto, Sheila has held positions with the Bank of Montreal, Imperial Oil Ltd, The YWCA of Canada, the Toronto Dance Foundation, CBC radio and TV, CTV, The Regina Leader Post, and the Regina YWCA. She is a member of the Ontario Parole Board. Sheila is currently Chair of the Board’s Administrative, Finance and Accountability Committee and Cochair of the French as a Second Language Advisory Committee (FSLAC). She was elected Chair of the TDSB 4 times by her colleagues. She is a passionate baseball and football fan, loves opera, Big Band music and genealogy.