Want to read how trustee hopefuls in other wards responded to our school-themed scenarios? Click here.
You suddenly find yourself back in grade school. You have all of your grown-up life experience, but you’re moving around the school in a young person’s body. You’re in Grade 1 and Halloween is fast approaching. Which costume do you wear to school and why?
Public school board candidates
Richard Hehr: I would wear my Elvis costume. In a previous life I had numerous gigs as an Elvis impersonator – so I’d not only have the gear, but the skills to pay the bills this Hallows-eve.
Merle Terlesky: Clown as I think its fun and scary at the same time.
Separate school board candidates
Lory Iovinelli: At a Catholic School Halloween is celebrated by wearing something either Orange or Black. I would wear an orange t-shirt that reads: “Got Candy?” because it is inoffensive and appropriate of the season.
How time flies. You’re in Grade 9. Your teacher is insisting you vote for which school club to cut because there’s a shortage of teachers to run the clubs. Which one gets the thumbs down? Explain your decision, please.
Public school board candidates
Richard Hehr: Chess club. Let me tell you a story from last week. I was playing chess with my grandson and he said – let’s make this interesting. So we stopped playing chess.
Merle Terlesky: Chess club. Chess can be played anywhere at anytime and does not really need supervison as much.
Separate school board candidates
Lory Iovinelli: Chess club. In order to maintain a safe and caring learning environment, none of the clubs should get the thumbs down if there interest shown. Each group should be represented if the need exists.
You’re in high school. You realize that one of your friends has been bullying another student because of his sexual orientation. You go to a teacher about the need to start a Gay Straight Alliance club, but her reception is lukewarm. You can tell she’s not going to help. How are you going to make this happen?
Public school board candidates
Richard Hehr: I would start it anyway. The statistics are clear: in schools where there are Gay Straight Alliances versus where there are none, a UBC study showed that there was 50% decline in suicidal ideation amongst LGBTQ youths — and heterosexual male students as well. Students should be able to associate freely with one another, and support one another. The first step would be to, of course, gather students, and particularly support my bullied friend.
Merle Terlesky: In order to start any club of interest, if the teacher was a no I would go further up the chain, and go direct to the school Principal, and also maybe email my CBE Trustee for advice
Separate school board candidates
Lory Iovinelli: I would gather a group of students interested in starting a Gay Straight Alliance Club and attempt to approach the teacher again. If the reception continues to be lukewarm I would proceed with my intentions to the School Guidance Counsellor or part of the School Administration team.
It is nearing the end of the tenth grade and marijuana has been legalized for a little over a month. You and a few other students learn that a teacher smokes a lot of cannabis at home. Do you think she should be held to a different standard when it comes to her recreation?
Public school board candidates
Richard Hehr: If marijuana is legal the adult teacher has every right to comply with the law and access those opportunities.
Merle Terlesky: If its legal its legal, so what could I do?
Separate school board candidates
Lory Iovinelli: What a teacher does on his and her own time should not be addressed at school unless it comes into conflict with his/her teaching practice. Teachers are role models to students and hopefully would hopefully acknowledge that special, sacred position and thus act accordingly.
All responses have been edited for typos, but not for spelling or syntax.