Question 1 – Zone 9 Responses
Will you act to postpone the appointment of a new OCDSB director? If no, what are your reasons? If yes, what are your reasons and how will you act?
Submissions in alphabetical order:
– Lyra Evans
– Rose LaBrèche
Lyra Evans – Yes
In answer to your question, it is my opinion that the appointment of the new OCDSB director should be postponed until after the election. While I believe that it is perfectly reasonable for the previous school board to make recommendations to the new board of trustees, I don’t think it is fair to appoint a new director immediately before the new board is established. This is my opinion because the new board should appoint the new director who shares a similar vision to the newly elected board, as they will be working together. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact my campaign.
Rose LaBrèche – Yes
Trustees elected on October 22, 2018 should be the driving force behind the hiring of a new Director of Education as the role is critical to ensuring the success of students within our city. Appointing a Director prior to the induction of a new Board could greatly affect the relationship between the two parties if they are not on the same page from the get-go. In turn, this could affect the quality of education received by all students. An interim Director (likely the OCDSB Associate Director) would offer a solid solution until the end of the school year in 2018-2019, and will give the newly elected board the opportunity to conduct a fulsome search for the right and best-fit candidate. Currently, trustees are either concerned about their own candidacy in the election (either for the position of trustee, or other municipal positions), or are likely disengaged as their term is coming to an end. Why not allow the incoming candidates take on the challenge of creating their own legacy? Of seeing their vision come to life with a new Director? We need a strong leader in this role with a similar outlook as the new Board to ensure a smooth, seamless transition.
If I were part of the committee to hire a new Director of Education for the OCDSB, I would ensure that the selected candidate would have a vision to create an inclusive culture within OCDSB schools, implement creative ways to enhance learning (and encouraging their staff to do so as well), seek innovative solutions to conquer difficult issues, foster positive relationships with staff and parents alike, and be an excellent communicator.