Two major Richmond political slates, both of which collectively profess socially liberal philosophies, have chosen not to run school trustee candidates.
To what extent the city’s Board of Education is prime for a takeover from socially conservative individuals is a matter of debate, but not outside the realm of possibilities, according to a number of prospective politicians. But the extent of power any majority would have on the board is also debatable.
Regardless, significant changes could be afoot with only two incumbent trustees, Donna Sargent and Eric Yung, publicly expressing their desire to be re-elected, to date.
Presently, both Richmond Citizens’ Association (RCA), a “civic expression” of the NDP, and RITE Richmond, a multi-partisan coalition, have chosen to put forth four city council candidates each, thus leaving a vacuum of candidates running on a socially progressive ticket. Meanwhile, independent trustee Sandra Nixon, who “can’t go much further left,” and is widely given credit for spearheading the district’s new sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) policy, is unsure if she will run again.
It is that very issue that has galvanized at least two Richmond residents to announce their intention to run for trustee, in opposition of the SOGI policy. The issue also has garnered attention from anti-SOGI conservative and/or religious groups, such as Canadian Christian Lobby, which intends to canvas B.C. trustees and campaign against those who voted for SOGI policies.
Of those who the News spoke to on a potential power vacuum on the board, all agreed to a varying extent that a majority can sway certain policies inside a school district, however their powers are mostly limited by Ministry of Education guidelines and provincial law.
“If there’s a majority, there is potential for there to be direction. But the ministry has a lot of authority in how the board operates, so there are a lot limitations,” said Nixon.
“The influence of the board is in policy and setting strategic objectives,” she said.
By law, a school district must balance its budget and adhere to basic provincial guidelines. Beyond that a board may direct a district on certain programming, say a music program being chosen over one for financial literacy.
RCA council candidate Jack Trovato, a teacher, ran unsuccessfully for trustee in 2014 but said he chose to run for council this year because the issues at city hall are of greater importance. Coun. Carol Day echoed Trovato, stating RITE wanted to focus on municipal issues. Trovato added RCA did try to find a candidate but there were no interested parties.
Day, a former trustee, said the board is largely limited in its power. While Trovato agreed, he said the board may still direct certain policies.
To that extent, citing delays in implementing a district SOGI policy, Trovato said the “Richmond Board of Education, historically, to my understanding, has been very hesitant to embrace change and been very conservative.”
Trustee Eric Yung, of Richmond First, whose centre-right slate once held a majority, also said trustees do wield power and influence, “otherwise I don’t think I’d run.
“Sure, we can’t recraft provincial policy; we can only influence. But we do have final say within the school district boundaries; it just may not be as flashy,” added Yung.
“Where those supports end up exactly is where the board lands on its own priorities,” said Yung.
As it pertains to any suggestion of amending SOGI policy, Yung said any majority, however it may take form, cannot expunge SOGI from the public education system in Richmond, as SOGI requirements are provincial law.
“This was a document on how we intend to implement something that was provincially mandated,” said Yung.
Prior to the 2014 election, Renew Richmond (elected trustee Alice Wong) and Richmond First (elected trustees Yung, Debbie Tablotney and Donna Sargent) were non-committal to a proactive, district-level SOGI policy (prior to the provincial government finally mandating it). The Richmond Community Coalition’s trustee Jonathan Ho opposed it, while independent trustee Ken Hamaguchi had stated support for it. RITE candidates Michael Starchuk, Rod Belleza and Norm Goldstein also expressed support for such a policy. Belleza is now running with the Coalition while Goldstein is running with Richmond First. Ho is leaving the Coalition’s trustee bid for a shot at city council. Ivan Pak and James Li are residents intending to run for the board after expressing disappointment with the SOGI implementation.
Of Note:
Long-time trustee and incumbent Debbie Tablotney, of Richmond First, has been left off her slate’s initial list of candidates. Tablotney could not be reached this week by the News, but said as recently as May that she was undecided in running again. Tablotney served a year as chair of the board, overseeing public consultation of proposed (and subsequently cancelled) school closures.
