For Maple Ridge trustee
• Name: Ken Clarkson.
• Residence: 102 Avenue, Maple Ridge.
• Occupation/education: Occupation: retired teacher with Master’s Degree in education.
• Volunteer work: coaching softball, football, baseball, and soccer; Pitt Meadows Day children’s sports co-ordinator; Pitt Meadows Day; Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows committee to investigate feasibility of providing a joint parks, recreation and culture service.
Question: Please provide an example of what you have done that qualifies you for school board.
Answer: In six years as a trustee, I have argued for more issues to be in public rather than closed, and for the board to take a stand. A majority of like–minded trustees are required if we are to move from the status-quo.
Q: Why are you running for trustee?
A: We need trustees who are passionate, strong advocates for public education. I will work to establish inclusive decision-making processes where educational partners participate jointly on board committees. When the people who are affected by decisions participate in making them, you discover better decisions and the public is better informed.
Q: What makes you stand out from other candidates?
A: What you do matters and how you do it matters even more. Power concedes nothing without a demand. As a trustee, I have and will continue to voice the demand the public is asking for. The current board’s action signals compliance. I will work to protect and empower our citizens.
Q: How do you see the school district changing in the next 10 years?
A: Student’s educational paths will become increasingly individualized, enabling each student to discover and develop their passion. The system as a whole will move in the direction of schools meeting the needs of the students, rather than the other way around.
Q: What will be your top priority if elected to school board?
Advocating to increase funding to public education by publicizing the impact of the cuts to date; implementing an inclusive decision-making process to determine the budget, which will enable better decisions and inform the public on the lack of funding; working with other boards to devise strategies to increase funding.