When Sandra Nixon wakes up, she helps her kids get ready for school.
During the day, as an ordained minister at her Vancouver church, she helps others find solutions to life’s problems.
By the evening, Nixon is probably helping your kid, either by researching education policy or talking to stakeholders in the Richmond School District.
One of four of Richmond’s new school trustees, Nixon was asked by the Richmond News what she needs help with.
“Probably time management,” she chuckles, drinking a decaffeinated Starbucks coffee, since it had already been a busy Monday morning and there was no need for a jolt. Presently, Nixon is not unlike others in Richmond, as she tries to find time to manage her garden and flowerpot. Another ambition is finding time in her hectic schedule for yoga.
“You can’t be there for others unless you’re taking care of yourself,” she explains.
Fridays are usually “Family Fridays,” she said, but, “I’m having a tough time finding a movie my 15 year-old son and 11 year-old daughter will both enjoy.”
In November, the former minister of Richmond United Church (previously known as the Richmond-Sea Island United Church) and present Girl Guide leader, rose from relative anonymity to snag a seat on the Richmond School Board.
While her counterparts spent upwards of $35,000, Nixon, an independent, spent $344.She reminds everyone that’s $344 more than fellow independent trustee Ken Hamaguchi.
“Apparently, I knew a lot more people than I thought and/or the papers...did a lot more. For the first time, I found there was a lot more information available, even though we only had one all-candidates meeting,” she said.
She called the last five months a “steep learning curve,” but noted her work as a minister has helped her navigate some of the overarching issues facing the district.
“I see a lot of parallels between the church and education system. The church is experiencing a decline in funds,” said Nixon.
Nixon made about as big of a splash a trustee could make in a school board election that garnered few local headlines.
Addressing a policy gap whereby Richmond stands as one of two Lower Mainland districts to not have an explicit LGBTQ policy, Nixon made it a talking point.
“At the United church, we worked really hard at being an open and inclusive church. … It’s not just about protecting LGBTQ students, it’s about creating a supportive environment, where kids can excel and be celebrated,” said Nixon.
The old board saw it fit to only follow the BC Human Rights Code. That may change as the district overhauls its policies (another policy the board will address, is a clearer set of guidelines for corporate donations).
Nixon said she has taken time to understand the system before moving on any of her ideas.
At the same time she speaks admirably about her fellow trustees, describing the relationship as “collegial.”
“Many other boards I see are much more partisan and divisive,” she said.
As in any new job, Nixon notes it has been important for her to spend time “getting to know the dynamics” and “building relationships and trust.”
Still, time is ticking quickly, she says, on local school boards and their ability to manage their respective districts.
Nixon is worried about the provincial government’s “paradigm” shift to centralization of the education system.
“It has hit home to me that we are on a trajectory that, as a community, we should be really worried about,” she said.
“Most of the trustees I talk to would have a great interest in seeing a change in government, and I would too,” she said, noting the board is joining with CUPE, the Richmond Teachers’ Association and district administrators to write a joint letter to the Ministry of Education to oppose recent funding cuts and policy changes (Bill 11) that are said to undermine the public education system.
