WEBSITE: www.stephenthiele.ca

EMAIL: sthiele@stephenthiele.ca

PHONE: 416-559-3424

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1. Why are you the best candidate for trustee?
I have lived in Etobicoke-Centre for 15 years and have a child who attends public school here. I have a proven track record for getting things done in our community through my volunteer efforts in Princess Anne Manor and in Humber Valley Village, and through a local Rotary club. I have worked hard for the best interests of our community, and I will work hard as your trustee to get things done for the best interests of our children.

2. What changes would you like to see at the school board in the next four years?Our public school system faces declining enrolment and its schools are in a state of disrepair. Accordingly, as your trustee I will work diligently and closely with board staff to ensure that effective programs are in place to increase enrolment and to fix the aging schools in Etobicoke-Centre. Increased enrolment and ensuring that our public schools are in a state of good repair and renovated where necessary so as to attract more children to the public school system will increase our funding from the province.

3. What is your position on the TDSB consolidating under-enrolled schools and selling off closed school properties?
No one wants to close a school. At the same time, we all want our children to receive the best education possible. Keeping under-utilized schools open can drain the financial resources of the Board, and thus hurt the quality of education provided in our schools because under-utilized schools offer their students less program choice. I will deal with this issue fairly and responsibly, and work closely with parents, surrounding communities and staff to ensure that no school is closed unwisely or that school properties are sold to the detriment of their surrounding neighbourhood.

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?
In periods of economic slowdown, it is difficult to justify wage increases for both private and public sector employees. While no worker wants to see their wages frozen, it is irresponsible of government to not closely examine the wages of public employees when tax revenue is in decline or stagnant. But given the provinces announcement, we can work now with the Board’s unionized employees to examine the $2.5 billion operational budget and fairly determine this issue in the best interests of the school system.

5. Please provide personal details on your bio.
I am a 45-year old lawyer and Etobicoke-Centre resident. I graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1990 and completed my undergraduate degree at York University. I have been engaged in our community as the co-founder of the Princess Anne Manor Ratepayers’ Association, and as a director and past-President of the Rotary Club of Toronto West. I also helped preserve the tree canopy in Humber Valley Village following the devastation of local trees by the invasive gypsy moth caterpillar. I am married and have one child.