Cheryl Edwards

1)   What are your views on education funding in Alberta and the role of school boards in funding decisions?

As an elected body, advocating the provincial government to prioritize education is key. At the division level it is a balancing act between fair and equitable needs. Every school community is unique, as is every classroom within the school. Some have powerful PAC's or support from their business communities, others do not. I have experienced site based done well, done poorly; division based funding done well, done poorly. Better communication to show transparency and accountability would assist in understanding what can look like inadequacy, lack of accountability and ineffective priorities.

As I learn more I see that the 3 year average, which may be good in theory, is not a solution to the unpredictability of enrollment numbers. It only slows the reaction time to increased or decreased enrollment. As a school board candidate, I would like to better understand how our money is flowing to ensure it is being used in the most efficient manner, as well as collaborate on how best to use this limited resource with the focus of what is best for our students.

2)   How can learning conditions in schools be improved? 

Again, the universal truth is that people learn best when they feel safe, comfortable and connected. This includes children. Starting with the staff (put your own oxygen mask on first!) Meet their needs and they will be able to meet the needs of our children. Ensure realistic, usable safety protocols, effective class sizes, access to resources including educational assistants, admin assistants, librarians and networking with professional colleagues.

I see a perfect classroom:  The temperature is comfortable, the air has been filtered. There is space, flexible furniture to come together to collaborate or spread out to focus on individual tasks.  Students can’t wait to get in and connect with each other and staff members, share their learning and are filled with wonder, excited for what the day may bring.  Students feel safe, wanted, encouraged and able. ALL Staff feel they are making a difference, what they do is valued and matters.

3)   What are your views on the recently released draft curriculum?

Dishearten in the process and the results. Changes are necessary, but positive progress has been lost and abandoned rather than built upon. The shift towards growing capable lifelong learners who contribute towards the betterment of society has been missed and the question of what is best for our children has been lost.

The further I dig into this topic, the more I agree with sending it completely to the shredder.  I’ve seen better documents written by grade 7 students.  With financial literacy added in 3 core subject areas I’m left wondering if it is really that important or if it is highlighting a deficit in the document's authors?

4)   How can trustees and school boards best support teachers and other school staff?

Being an advocate for children, assessing educational policies in terms of what is best for the development of the whole child is what speaks loudest to me. Ensuring ALL stakeholders have not only a voice, but a governing body to listen is the first of many steps to support our teachers. Teachers and support staff are on the front line every day and know what they need to serve children best. Children without adult support systems, in survival mode, need a voice. Top down leadership and governing over is not effective.

Simply put, listen to staff.  There is no one size fits all answer, but there are universal needs and solutions if you listen and build from a strength based, future thinking mindset. Shift towards a bottom up leadership would benefit the whole school community. 

5)   As a school board trustee how will you encourage and facilitate the calls to action as outlined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission?

Respectfully, inclusively and with empathy, as in all matters. Of the 94 calls to action, school boards can affect progress best on just 2. We must listen first to understand to ensure age-appropriate education is integrated with indiginous teachings and methods. Building student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect will bring to light universal truths to be acknowledged and used to reconnect our society as a whole.

At the board level, it would be responsible to look back and acknowledge the success or lack of in our past actions, then move forward with collaboration from our local indiginous communities as they are a valuable resource.  “Celebrate diversity to create unity in our communities.” was a favorite collaborative project of mine that would take us a step closer to where we want to go.

6)   What improvements or changes could be made to improve student and staff safety in the division?

Create a healthy environment physically: air quality, personal hygiene education, personal space etiquette, age appropriate disease transmission, not just COVID.  Continue with Masking but include education on how to do it properly and WHY. 

Create a healthy environment mentally: Quality, accessible counselling and support for students. Mental health days for staff are NOT PL days.

Continue closed campus protocols.

Review all current safety protocols including bus loading/unloading zones to ensure they are safe or if they need improvement.