MaryAnn Mortensen’s Campaign Platform

"As a parent of two children in New Westminster attending Connaught Heights and Lord Tweedsmuir, Chair of the District Parent Advisory Council, member of the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils, and as an active volunteer in our school district and in the community, I have a unique perspective on all our schools and the community.  Public Education in New Westminster is vital to our children and our community.  We need positive change on our School Board and I joined Voice to be that positive change.  Be the change you want to see."

MaryAnn Mortensen, Voice Candidate for School Trustee

As your trustee, I commit to achieving the following goals:

Students First

Child-focused decisions made in consultation with teachers, and all school personnel, parents/guardians and the community.  Healthy schools that foster a love of teaching and learning are important to the health of our community.

• One size does not fit all - Support and grow our Programs of Choice

• Ensure that all our students receive early assessment  

• 21st Century Learning - Appropriate use of new technologies as tools to support and enhance learning in our classrooms and tailored to the specific needs of our students

Schools

We have waited for ten years for our new high school and are now on the path to have a new elementary, middle and high school built in our City.  Good leadership is necessary to steward the Capital Project and consulting on the design build of our schools will expedite the process.   On Saturday November 19th, make Voice your stewards of New Westminster School Board.

• Breaking ground on the three new schools planned for New Westminster

• Following the final announcement to proceed with Capital Project construction - undertake immediate consultation with the John Robson and NWSS school communities on the design build process to expedite the construction process

• Following consultation, the prompt development of a plan to expedite the construction of our schools

• Upgrading existing schools including seismic upgrades and removal of any hazardous materials used in previous construction

Home and Family

We know the value and importance parents/guardians play in their child's education.  Let's build relationships that foster trust, engagement and achievement for our children.

• Commitment to 100% Parent Advisory Council meeting participation

• Meaningful reporting to parents/guardians

• Welcoming school communities

Communications 

How we communicate is vital to our school communities and the wider community.  We know there are gaps in the communication system in New Westminster and we will address them!

• An audit to identify gaps in communication with parents/guardians

• Encouraging Parent Advisory Council and community input to implement the Neighbourhoods of Learning Initiative at our new schools

• Open dialogue with our teachers, staff and home

 Progressive and Positive Management 

Did you know that New Westminster School Board does not have a Strategic Plan?  A Mission and Vision statement is essential to creating policies that all 'education stakeholders'  will invest in.  Voice will create a Strategic Plan in consultation with all our school personnel, parents/guardians and the community.  Put your trust in Voice.

• Improving the Business Company’s performance and restoring public trust in the Business Company by ensuring that matters are dealt with transparently and at arm's length

• Governing practices that are free from conflict of interest - Conflicts of interest are inevitable and to be expected, especially and in a City our size, but board members must declare their conflicts and remove themselves from discussions on matters of real or perceived conflict of interest

• Developing strategies for a better education future in the district - For example, sharing resources with other districts to keep more education dollars here in our New Westminster classrooms  

• Making New Westminster the best place to learn and work!

NW SD Business Company: You might just be astonished to know...

For years now, I have heard complaints about the School District Business Company.  The disinformation has been wide-spread and has, for too long, clouded concerns around the value of the Business Company.  Trustee Brent Atkinson's claim this year that the Business Company saved the New Westminster school district from a $1 mil deficit is nothing more than smoke and mirrors.  In fact, were it not for the debt the Business Company has owed the district for ten years, our district would not have suffered such dark days in recent years.  The no pay back date of the $1 mil dollars the Business Company owed the district and no plan to pay interest was only very recently addressed after much public pressure including Voice incumbent trustees, Casey Cook and Jim Goring.

While it is true that Brent Atkinson and others, (Secretary Treasurer Brian Sommerfeldt amongst others) turned the Business Company around from when Michael Ewen was running things, it is disingenuous to suggest that the Business Company is making a profit until it pays back the full amount of the loan it took from New Westminster school district - money so badly needed in our classrooms.  The continued inference from the CEO of the Business Company, Brent Atkinson, that the Company is somehow benevolent in paying "profits" back to the district belies the problem of allowing a sitting trustee to run a district Business Company.  The sole purpose of any school district business company is to turn a profit for the benefit of the school district, its students and personnel!

It is notable that Mr. Atkinson does not draw a salary.  Benevolent some might say.  Or is it?  How can a Business Company be sustainable when staff who work for the benefit of a company receive no remuneration?  It does answer many questions I have had about how it is that a seemingly "conservative" School Board trustee went from battling in the trenches with the District Labour endorsed candidates, Michael Ewen, James Janzen and Lori Watt, to claiming that they were the only collegial members of the Board.  As a parent who attended meetings regularly for the past three years (missing only one meeting in 2008 Sept-Jun), I can attest to the fact that this is not what I witnessed at the School Board meetings I attended.  The kind of politicking at the Board table for the last three years has not come from the Voice incumbent trustees.  In fact, the opposite could be said of Voice incumbent trustees, Casey Cook, Jim Goring and Lisa Graham who have remained calm in the face of this and other serious issues that must be dealt with.  

The operation of the Business Company would turn the heads of bankers everywhere.  To get the full story, read about the Freedom of Information request here put out by Casey Cook and Jim Goring and the Business Company's response (aka, Brent Atkinson) response here.

To get the full story and the context read this.  You might just be astonished.

Why you Should care to vote for your School Board Trustees Saturday November 19th

Maybe you don't have children or they are not yet in the school system.  Perhaps your children are fully grown.  Ever wondered why you should vote for your School Board Trustees?  Explore how your School Board Trustees impact you and your community.  Read on http://tinyurl.com/c8rzucl

Vote Voice for positive change on your New Westminster School Board!

For Immediate Release: Voice Candidates Disclose Campaign Contributions

Voice New Westminster

November 14, 2011

For Immediate Release

 

 

Voice New Westminster school trustee candidates release campaign contributions

 

 

New Westminster, BC -- As was pledged earlier in the New Westminster civic election, the five Voice New Westminster school trustee candidates have released the total amount of campaign contributions each has received in support of their individual campaigns. 

 

These campaign contributions, which include in-kind and cash donations, are summarised at the bottom of this press release and they are also available as a PDF document on the Voice New Westminster website at www.voicenewwestminster.org.

 

These campaign contributions reflect those received as of November 13, 2011 and the amounts are not expected to change in any significant way subsequently.  

To the best of our knowledge, Voice candidates are the only candidates to have taken this unprecedented step in a New Westminster civic election.

 

It is important to note, as well, that Voice New Westminster as an organization has not sought or received campaign contributions during this election campaign.

 

Voice New Westminster and its candidates value transparency and openness in public affairs and this disclosure is in accordance with those values. 

 

In view of the vast amounts of money being spent on campaigns in New Westminster by some candidates (i.e., full page ads in the local newspapers, brand new lawn signs, numerous glossy brochures and endorsements by New Westminster’s elected members from other levels of government) the public deserves to know exactly who is pulling the political strings and who is funding these candidates.

 

Voice New Westminster is a broadly-based, non-partisan civic electors organization comprised of city residents who share common concerns about the future of our community, its neighbourhoods, its sustainability, and the integrity and transparency of public processes carried out by local government bodies.

Spreading party politics a bad move in city

Spreading party politics a bad move in city

Pat Tracy, Editor of the Royal City Record discusses why NDP MLA Dawn Black's and NDP MP's Fin Donnelly and Peter Juilan's endorsement of District Labour slate in New Westminster is a "bad move". My opinion? Party politics=poor representation of your electorate.

New Westminster News Leader - COLUMN: A look at New Westminster's political power players

New Westminster News Leader - COLUMN: A look at New Westminster's political power players

A look at the political scene in New Westminster. Don't think your School Board politicians count? Think again. Your School Board trustees impact your community in many ways and your vote matters. Vote for your School Board trustees and make your vote Voice New Westminster

MaryAnn Mortensen’s Campaign Platform

"As a parent of two children in New Westminster attending Connaught Heights and Lord Tweedsmuir, Chair of the District Parent Advisory Council, member of the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils, and as an active volunteer in our school district and in the community, I have a unique perspective on all our schools and the community.  Public Education in New Westminster is vital to our children and our community.  We need positive change on our School Board and I joined Voice to be that positive change.  Be the change you want to see."

MaryAnn Mortensen, Voice Candidate for School Trustee

As your trustee, I commit to achieving the following goals:

Students First

Child-focused decisions made in consultation with teachers, and all school personnel, parents/guardians and the community.  Healthy schools that foster a love of teaching and learning are important to the health of our community.

• One size does not fit all - Support and grow our Programs of Choice

• Ensure that all our students receive early assessment  

• 21st Century Learning - Appropriate use of new technologies as tools to support and enhance learning in our classrooms and tailored to the specific needs of our students

Schools

We have waited for ten years for our new high school and are now on the path to have a new elementary, middle and high school built in our City.  Good leadership is necessary to steward the Capital Project and consulting on the design build of our schools will expedite the process.   On Saturday November 19th, make Voice your stewards of New Westminster School Board.

• Breaking ground on the three new schools planned for New Westminster

• Following the final announcement to proceed with Capital Project construction - undertake immediate consultation with the John Robson and NWSS school communities on the design build process to expedite the construction process

• Following consultation, the prompt development of a plan to expedite the construction of our schools

• Upgrading existing schools including seismic upgrades and removal of any hazardous materials used in previous construction

Home and Family

We know the value and importance parents/guardians play in their child's education.  Let's build relationships that foster trust, engagement and achievement for our children.

• Commitment to 100% Parent Advisory Council meeting participation

• Meaningful reporting to parents/guardians

• Welcoming school communities

Communications 

How we communicate is vital to our school communities and the wider community.  We know there are gaps in the communication system in New Westminster and we will address them!

• An audit to identify gaps in communication with parents/guardians

• Encouraging Parent Advisory Council and community input to implement the Neighbourhoods of Learning Initiative at our new schools

• Open dialogue with our teachers, staff and home

 Progressive and Positive Management 

Did you know that New Westminster School Board does not have a Strategic Plan?  A Mission and Vision statement is essential to creating policies that all 'education stakeholders'  will invest in.  Voice will create a Strategic Plan in consultation with all our school personnel, parents/guardians and the community.  Put your trust in Voice.

• Improving the Business Company’s performance and restoring public trust in the Business Company by ensuring that matters are dealt with transparently and at arm's length

• Governing practices that are free from conflict of interest - Conflicts of interest are inevitable and to be expected, especially and in a City our size, but board members must declare their conflicts and remove themselves from discussions on matters of real or perceived conflict of interest

• Developing strategies for a better education future in the district - For example, sharing resources with other districts to keep more education dollars here in our New Westminster classrooms  

• Making New Westminster the best place to learn and work!

New Westminster News Leader - COLUMN: A look at New Westminster's political power players

New Westminster News Leader - COLUMN: A look at New Westminster's political power players



A perspective not often shared publicly in New Westminster.  Is it time to swing the pendulum back to students, parents and the community?  I believe it is time.