From top left, clockwise:
Rod Jensen, teacher:
Can I name a school trustee? I can’t! The school board is a multi-purpose [entity] that offers leadership to the teaching and non-teaching professionals in the district. It offers development to make sure we’re following the curriculum.
Sophie Shu, teacher:
Oh my goodness! ...I don’t think so. When I was in high school, a friend’s mom was a trustee, Grace Tsang. It covers policies and things like that; things that schools don’t determine on their own and it has to be taken to a district level and then maybe the district and Ministry [of Education] make policies.
Chris Ludwig, musician:
I don’t follow local politics at all! No. I understand exactly how the governance of a school board works. The purpose is to set policy, hire senior staff. Basically they determine policy, funding, what school gets what funding. They are the policy makers and staff deliver the decisions of the board.
Benny Palit-Ang, medical supplies:
I don’t have any idea! It’s a government thing. They are the ones in charge of public schools and the students. It [handles] how they teach kids in school and how they manage services for the community.
Dayan Batara, accountant:
Donna Sargent! ...I used to be the co chairman of the Steveston-London parent advisory, the PAC. In my experience, they try to come up with policies and help schools. I was involved with integrating Steveston High School and London. It was the board that was in the middle [of the concerns].
