More than ever, school trustees need to become advocates for a well-funded pubic education system.
That’s the message of independent Richmond Board of Education candidate Jack Trovato, a Richmond resident and Burnaby teacher who will run for school trustee for the Nov.15 municipal election.
“I have had a sense of urgency on advocating for a well-funded public education system. I don’t see that being done by current trustees,” said Trovato, who added Richmond’s board was among the last to write a letter to the government during the labour dispute and when it did “it was polite an didn’t specify very clearly what (was) needed to be done.”
The 50-year-old father said trustees have been “too fearful,” and after knocking on doors in the city he noted that “parents didn’t feel the current board advocated as strong as they could have.”
Trovato said public education is the cornerstone of core Canadian values such as an egalitarian, democratic society.
“When we stray from that, it can cause stratification of society of those that have and have not, and that is worrisome, to say the least,” said Trovato, who teaches drama, among other subjects.
He told the Richmond News that in 15 years as a teacher his drama class has grown by one-third and education assistants have not kept pace with special needs students.
“There aren’t enough teachers and asistants to meet the needs of our diverse learners,” said Trovato, a newcomer to politics.
He said it’s imperative trustees balance the budget and he acknowledged the board’s limitations, thus the reason for his advocacy.
He said he would advocate for the board to produce a “needs budget” alongside the real budget in order to make a point to the government.
On specific measures to be addressed, Trovato said he wants the Richmond School District to focus more on students transitioning to industry programs.
“We need to make sure kids who aren’t bound for university also have options available to them,” said Trovato.
Trovato grew up in Richmond and graduated from McNair Secondary school.
Trovato said he’s been endorsed by the BC NDP as well as CUPE Local 716.
Visit Trovato’s Facebook page where he’s listed more of his ideas.
