A trustee candidate running in next month’s by-election wants to bring back a sense of pride when it comes to students and teachers learning and working within School District 57.
Milton Mahoney thinks it’s imperative that all students need to thrive in a positive, academic setting.
“I want to put a symbolism within the district of all children being equal, all children striving to be their best. Doesn’t matter who they are or what they are, they have to strive and be their best.”
“Right now, the school district through the ministry is lowering the bar. Why that is I don’t know. They should be raising the bar and helping the students reach their full potential. I believe every child should be safe in school and there are lots of things in society that were there when I was young and these people have to be protected. There has to be a safe work environment for the teachers also.”
Mahoney adds there has been a lot of turnover within the school board over the past several years and it’s time to get to the bottom of why this has been the case.
“There have been six superintendents, two or three assistant superintendents that have left over the last six years. Why did they leave? Is it basically because of the leadership whether it’s ministry’s leadership or the school boards’ leadership?”
“I worked for CN for a number of years, and I have done a lot of major investigations to find root causes of incidents or accidents and always finding the root cause. This is where the Minister of Education has failed, she (Jennifer Whiteside) has not found the root cause.”
“The Minister of Education has great power. She can dissolve a trustee board, she can put in whoever she wants and that’s way too much power. Elected people have to remember who they work for and if they are in office too long they think that they own it,” added Mahoney.
Mahoney has officially submitted his package and is running against former PG broadcaster Audrey McKinnon as well as Brian John Trotter.
When asked why he would be the right man for the job, Mahoney stated the answer is simple.
“Because I am a confident type guy. I get things done. I have been noted from my past of having a problem and resolving it, normally very quickly.”
The by-election will be held on January 15th.
One new trustee in each of the PG and Mackenzie Districts will be voted in.