OSRA supporting teachers as trustees

[Captain77]

I was dismayed to read that OSRA is supporting a bunch of retired teachers to run for school trustee in the local school district (four of the six on their slate). You can bet higher salaries for teachers will come ahead of books, computers and student needs. I wonder how many of those four are taking campaign donations from the teachers union? Our poor kids!

[beam-me-up-morrison]

Not necessarily. They didn't endorse Walter Huebert. Wally's telling everyone he had nothing to do with tearing down the auditorium and gymnasium, noting it was a decision made before he was acclaimed to the board in 2005.
However, in 2007, Mr. Dave Shunter presented to the board an elaborate plan to save the auditorium (fundraising, volunteer executive director, corporate sponsorship, plus an agreement of FIVE LIVING EX-MAYORS OF PENTICTON all who posed for a photo) and that night, moved by Connie Denesiuk, seconded by Walter Huebert "to proceed with the demolition of Pen-Hi's auditorium and gym as scheduled."

As for Summerland, you absolutely can't have Linda Van Alphen back in. She's been a lap dog for administration for the nine years she's been on the board.

[Captain77]

True, BMUM, Walter is a teacher and they didn't add him to their slate. Who is on the OSRA executive anyway? I see they paid for an ad with the names of people on their slate. I was going to support Cary, but once I saw his name on the slate I've decided against it.

[beam-me-up-morrison]

OSRA was that group that ran a bunch of candidates in 2008
Michael Brydon, Tom Siddon, Dave Perry, Karla Kozavech, Kim Marchand, Ron Barilarro, Tom Johnston
They were opposed to demolition of Pen-Hi auditorium

Cary isn't on a slate per say but is getting endorsed by this group, similar to that business group out of Kelowna which picked four council candidates.

Also, on retired teachers. I wouldn't mind having some retired MEDICAL DOCTORS on the hospital foundation. An entire board of them no but a handful, absolutely. Who knows education better than those in the trenches? Too many school trustees have been parents who are happy to be important and who are well-meaninged but have no post-secondary education.

[Captain77]

Hmmmm, sounds like those endorsed by OSRA have less than a 50% chance of success. If I were a candidate, I wouldn't want their endorsement, and I've already heard a couple of comments indicating support for anyone BUT the endorsed candidates. People don't like what appears to be a slate around here.
Regarding the low education levels of well meaning parents as trustees, the smartest man I know has a grade 8 education. So a university education doesn't guarantee intelligence.