Ward 1, 2, Cochrane

1 To Be Elected

Myra D'Souza: No response.

Antonio Fortugno: No response.

Ward 3, 5

1 To Be Elected

Terry W.N. Thuo: No response.

Ward 4, 7, Airdrie

1 To Be Elected

Dan Penna: No response.

Maria-Teresa Vecchio-Romano: No response.

Ward 6, 8

1 To Be Elected

Trent Will Cherak: No response.

Valerie A. Dove: No response.

Lory Iovinelli: The Calgary Catholic School District prioritizes Student Success, which includes meeting diverse learning needs, creating optimal, student-centered learning environments, and supporting staff in ongoing professional growth. The District’s Annual Education Results Report (AERR) demonstrates that our students consistently exceed provincial averages in core academic subjects — a remarkable achievement, especially given that 40% of our student population represents diverse backgrounds and unique learning conditions. These results confirm that academics are indeed a top priority. As a Trustee, I fully support continuing to invest in strong academic outcomes through thoughtful stewardship of resources.

Ward 9, 10, Chestermere

1 To Be Elected

Shannon Cook: No response.

Ward 11, 12

1 To Be Elected

Chantelle Dur: I support an approach that ensures students develop strong foundations in reading, writing, and math. At the same time, faith formation is essential—it’s the heart of what makes our Catholic schools unique. A truly well-rounded education in a Catholic school nurtures both academic excellence and spiritual and moral growth.

Ward 13, 14

1 To Be Elected

Amelia Arriaga: No response.

Steve Chapman: Once upon a time Calgary Catholic, like many Catholic school boards, excelled in academics standardized scores over their public counterparts. I think we have lost that edge and it needs to be a major metric in how we evaluate our performance. Faith based academic excellence is what we are about as a school division.

Kimberly Metcalf: Firstly, Catholic schools have 5 cores as religion is a core subject. I feel that we do put priority on these subjects. I think many of the core subject textbooks are out dated but this is a government issue. I do feel less money should be spent DUI projects.

Ward 1, 2, Cochrane

1 To Be Elected

Myra D'Souza: No response.

Antonio Fortugno: No response.

Ward 3, 5

1 To Be Elected

Terry W.N. Thuo: No response.

Ward 4, 7, Airdrie

1 To Be Elected

Dan Penna: It is an important element for accountability.

Maria-Teresa Vecchio-Romano: No response.

Ward 6, 8

1 To Be Elected

Trent Will Cherak: No response.

Valerie A. Dove: No response.

Lory Iovinelli: Allowing money to follow students to the education parents choose poses a significant threat to publicly funded education. Publicly funded school boards are accountable for every dollar spent, and our performance and accountability reports ensure transparency and student success. Alberta already offers many educational choices within the publicly funded system. Expanding this further risks spreading limited resources too thin, lowering accountability standards, and weakening the high-quality education Albertans currently enjoy.

Ward 9, 10, Chestermere

1 To Be Elected

Shannon Cook: No response.

Ward 11, 12

1 To Be Elected

Chantelle Dur: Catholic tradition upholds the rights of parents as the primary educators of their children, and the principle of funding following the student aligns with this belief. By allowing families to choose the educational setting that best reflects their values and meets their children’s needs, this approach empowers parents to fulfill their God-given role in guiding their children’s academic, spiritual, and moral development.

Ward 13, 14

1 To Be Elected

Amelia Arriaga: No response.

Steve Chapman: The challenge with education is that a massive cost is invested annually into buildings, programs, teachers, staff and related costs regardless of attendance. Catholic education must exist before students can attend. parents choose private or charter schools for specific reasons other than academics. So parental choice is not always an accountability issues.. that said every parent in Alberta deserves to send their children to the school of their choice I suggest however that many popular charter schools are religious based which suggests that perhaps the Catholic education system is not addressing core religious needs. we need to take a look at that.

Kimberly Metcalf: I whole heartedly agree with this statement. If the local school isn't meeting the needs of the student then that money should go with the student. I think it should be a wake up call to public education that they are not meeting students needs.

Ward 1, 2, Cochrane

1 To Be Elected

Myra D'Souza: No response.

Antonio Fortugno: No response.

Ward 3, 5

1 To Be Elected

Terry W.N. Thuo: No response.

Ward 4, 7, Airdrie

1 To Be Elected

Dan Penna: Decentralization of decision making allows parental concerns to be more influential.

Maria-Teresa Vecchio-Romano: No response.

Ward 6, 8

1 To Be Elected

Trent Will Cherak: No response.

Valerie A. Dove: No response.

Lory Iovinelli: I believe decisions are best made as close to the community as possible. I will continue to advocate for educators to be trusted to teach and for school boards to be trusted to govern.

Ward 9, 10, Chestermere

1 To Be Elected

Shannon Cook: No response.

Ward 11, 12

1 To Be Elected

Chantelle Dur: Local decision-makers should take responsibility for local decisions, reflecting the Catholic principle of subsidiarity, which calls for decisions to be made at the most local level capable of addressing an issue effectively.

Ward 13, 14

1 To Be Elected

Amelia Arriaga: No response.

Steve Chapman: one of the things I learned in the police is that the best decisions are always local. the nearer the solution is to the problem the better. I do not welcome or agree with one size solutions that supposedly fits all. They almost never do. I like local solutions to local problems.

Kimberly Metcalf: I believe school boards should make their own decisions. However,, there may be times when the government needs to step in as what happened with certain books founds in both Calgary and Edmonton public schools.

Ward 1, 2, Cochrane

1 To Be Elected

Myra D'Souza: No response.

Antonio Fortugno: No response.

Ward 3, 5

1 To Be Elected

Terry W.N. Thuo: No response.

Ward 4, 7, Airdrie

1 To Be Elected

Dan Penna: CCSD is not transparent enough. Meetings should not be in camera. Meetings can rotate from school to school and parish hall to parish hall. Meetings should be web-broadcast. A concerted effort to inform people needs to be made.

Maria-Teresa Vecchio-Romano: No response.

Ward 6, 8

1 To Be Elected

Trent Will Cherak: No response.

Valerie A. Dove: No response.

Lory Iovinelli: The Calgary Catholic School District is committed to transparency with parents and taxpayers. Board meeting minutes and motions are posted publicly on the district’s website. Regular consultations, such as our Help Plan Our Future(HPOF) sessions, invite Catholic ratepayers and families to share feedback on topics like school closures, new school openings, Board priorities, budgets, and calendars. Online surveys further ensure that parent voices guide district decisions. While land, legal, and labour matters are dealt with in private (as required by law), I support ongoing reviews of meeting agendas to ensure as many items as possible are discussed in public.

Ward 9, 10, Chestermere

1 To Be Elected

Shannon Cook: No response.

Ward 11, 12

1 To Be Elected

Chantelle Dur: I believe transparency is essential for building trust. To ensure openness and accountability, in-camera meetings—which exclude public scrutiny—should be rare, not routine.

Ward 13, 14

1 To Be Elected

Amelia Arriaga: No response.

Steve Chapman: Not at all. Most school board meeting are started in camera with zero public scrutiny. It is not possible that every single school board meeting addresses sensitive HR issues that need to be in camera. Every effort needs to be made that decisions are made public. As a trustee I represent the Catholic community in my area. I need to involve them in the decision making process.

Kimberly Metcalf: I feel school board trustee meetings should be made public unless there is a privacy matter being discussed.

Ward 1, 2, Cochrane

1 To Be Elected

Myra D'Souza: No response.

Antonio Fortugno: No response.

Ward 3, 5

1 To Be Elected

Terry W.N. Thuo: No response.

Ward 4, 7, Airdrie

1 To Be Elected

Dan Penna: I commit to such a policy.

Maria-Teresa Vecchio-Romano: No response.

Ward 6, 8

1 To Be Elected

Trent Will Cherak: No response.

Valerie A. Dove: No response.

Lory Iovinelli: I share the concerns raised by families and educators about how certain laws may impact the dignity, privacy, and safety of students. While Trustees do not create provincial laws, we do have a responsibility to advocate for students and ensure safe, supportive environments. My priority is for all students to feel safe, valued, and supported — including our 2SLGBTQ+ and trans students — as they navigate self-discovery. Parents are essential partners in this journey, but each situation requires compassion and discretion rather than prescriptive legislation such as Bill 27, which risks harming vulnerable youth. In my eight years as Trustee, I have witnessed the power of walking alongside students as children made in the image and likeness of God. I will continue to advocate for responses grounded in dignity, care, and faith — not politics.

Ward 9, 10, Chestermere

1 To Be Elected

Shannon Cook: No response.

Ward 11, 12

1 To Be Elected

Chantelle Dur: Yes.

Ward 13, 14

1 To Be Elected

Amelia Arriaga: No response.

Steve Chapman: I don't believe we ever need secrets from parents.. we are a school division educating their children. Using their tax dollars to fund that education. Parents are ultimately the chief architect of that education.

Kimberly Metcalf: I don't not believe teachers and students should have secrets. I support any legislation to stops secrets being kept from parents.

Ward 1, 2, Cochrane

1 To Be Elected

Myra D'Souza: No response.

Antonio Fortugno: No response.

Ward 3, 5

1 To Be Elected

Terry W.N. Thuo: No response.

Ward 4, 7, Airdrie

1 To Be Elected

Dan Penna: In a Catholic context, provided that the information provided is what is in the catechism, no special permission is needed. Principals should be accountable if non-Catholic information is taught.

Maria-Teresa Vecchio-Romano: No response.

Ward 6, 8

1 To Be Elected

Trent Will Cherak: No response.

Valerie A. Dove: No response.

Lory Iovinelli: The Calgary Catholic School District fully respects that parents are the primary educators of their children. Family Life units, taught within Religion class, reflect Catholic teachings and are delivered in a caring, pastoral manner. Parents are always informed in advance and have the option to opt their child out of specific topics or units. This long-standing practice predates the provincial opt-out regulation. All teachings in our Catholic schools align with our faith and the teachings of Christ.

Ward 9, 10, Chestermere

1 To Be Elected

Shannon Cook: No response.

Ward 11, 12

1 To Be Elected

Chantelle Dur: If these topics are addressed from a clear and faithful Catholic perspective, then parental notification should not be necessary for the purpose of “vetting” the content. In a Catholic school, it is not (and should not be) up to individual teachers to determine how these subjects are presented. The Catholic moral framework is - or ought to be - woven into the very identity of the school. Parents have a reasonable expectation that their children will receive formation consistent with the Catholic faith across the curriculum.

Ward 13, 14

1 To Be Elected

Amelia Arriaga: No response.

Steve Chapman: I think parents should be informed about all content of all courses. Abortion, sex, assault, marriage, sexual identity etc are outside the provincial curriculum and therefore are matters for the Diocese and Bishop.. We cannot be "Catholic" Education without hands on involvement from the Bishop.

Kimberly Metcalf: Parents need not only be informed but give consent before topics like this are discussed.

Ward 1, 2, Cochrane

1 To Be Elected

Myra D'Souza: No response.

Antonio Fortugno: No response.

Ward 3, 5

1 To Be Elected

Terry W.N. Thuo: No response.

Ward 4, 7, Airdrie

1 To Be Elected

Dan Penna: Yes.

Maria-Teresa Vecchio-Romano: No response.

Ward 6, 8

1 To Be Elected

Trent Will Cherak: No response.

Valerie A. Dove: No response.

Lory Iovinelli: Yes, I believe program and course development at the school board level must be transparent and focused on clearly defined knowledge outcomes. Transparency builds trust with parents and ensures alignment with Alberta curriculum expectations and Catholic values.

Ward 9, 10, Chestermere

1 To Be Elected

Shannon Cook: No response.

Ward 11, 12

1 To Be Elected

Chantelle Dur: Transparency ensures that parents and stakeholders can trust the process, while clear knowledge outcomes provide students with a strong foundation for academic success. In Catholic education, this approach also ensures that programs reflect our shared values and align with the mission of nurturing both academic excellence and faith formation.

Ward 13, 14

1 To Be Elected

Amelia Arriaga: No response.

Steve Chapman: As a social scientist I am a firm believer in metrics and focused data analysis. it something cannot be measured then does it really exist. We must be transparent and focused on specific outcomes. that is what gives Faith based education credibility.

Kimberly Metcalf: I think that students learn differently clearly defined outcomes are.fine as long students are able to express their learning with what works best for them.

Ward 1, 2, Cochrane

1 To Be Elected

Myra D'Souza: No response.

Antonio Fortugno: No response.

Ward 3, 5

1 To Be Elected

Terry W.N. Thuo: No response.

Ward 4, 7, Airdrie

1 To Be Elected

Dan Penna: Developmental continuums do not need to be vague or merely descriptive. Elementary letter grades are sub-optimal. Letters and percentages are appropriate in High School.

Maria-Teresa Vecchio-Romano: No response.

Ward 6, 8

1 To Be Elected

Trent Will Cherak: No response.

Valerie A. Dove: No response.

Lory Iovinelli: I believe in Student Success, which looks different for every learner. Assessment should reflect diverse learning styles and demonstrate that knowledge outcomes are achieved. While formative assessment may vary, all students complete standardized assessments such as Provincial Exams, which ensure consistency and accountability. Offering varied opportunities for assessment helps students demonstrate their learning in meaningful ways and prepares them for success on standardized tests.

Ward 9, 10, Chestermere

1 To Be Elected

Shannon Cook: No response.

Ward 11, 12

1 To Be Elected

Chantelle Dur: Clear and consistent reporting ensures accountability and helps parents and students effectively track progress and identify areas for improvement.

Ward 13, 14

1 To Be Elected

Amelia Arriaga: No response.

Steve Chapman: this I do not have access to the data. I personally object to any one size fits all approach. I do not believe in grading students on the "curve" .. our job is to educate. our metric is the ability of a student to recall and use that education. We need to know our kids are learning. When I taught psychology at Old sun College one of my classes were mostly students taking my class as an option for their clerical skills diploma. Most were not actually university transfer students. I had to completely readjust how i tested and graded these students so I could measure retention and learning.

Kimberly Metcalf: Percentage grades defiantly for HS. If the students are graded another way parents could ask for a grading break down.

Ward 1, 2, Cochrane

1 To Be Elected

Myra D'Souza: No response.

Antonio Fortugno: No response.

Ward 3, 5

1 To Be Elected

Terry W.N. Thuo: No response.

Ward 4, 7, Airdrie

1 To Be Elected

Dan Penna: No response.

Maria-Teresa Vecchio-Romano: No response.

Ward 6, 8

1 To Be Elected

Trent Will Cherak: No response.

Valerie A. Dove: No response.

Lory Iovinelli: In a recent survey, Calgary Catholic School teachers expressed that additional professional development time would be beneficial. Today’s classrooms are increasingly complex, requiring teachers to meet diverse student needs daily. More opportunities to collaborate and learn together would strengthen instructional practice and ultimately enhance student success. I would support exploring options that balance instructional time with high-quality professional learning.

Ward 9, 10, Chestermere

1 To Be Elected

Shannon Cook: No response.

Ward 11, 12

1 To Be Elected

Chantelle Dur: I believe professional development (PD) days are an important opportunity for teachers and staff to enhance their skills and better serve students. In our Catholic school district, PD days should also include adequate faith formation to support teachers and staff in integrating Catholic values into their teaching and creating a faith-centered learning environment.

Ward 13, 14

1 To Be Elected

Amelia Arriaga: No response.

Steve Chapman: I do not know.. I do not have any data. professional development is important. Again it is not apparent that a one size policy works.. teachers may have different needs. I think we need to be flexible to ensure that professional development is actually occurring for all our teachers.

Kimberly Metcalf: I think the staff should come back at least one week before the students for lesson planning. For Catholic schools l would like to see the faith days back to back. I believe for Catholic teachers part of PD should focus on teachers being aware of Catholic teaching.

Ward 1, 2, Cochrane

1 To Be Elected

Myra D'Souza: No response.

Antonio Fortugno: No response.

Ward 3, 5

1 To Be Elected

Terry W.N. Thuo: No response.

Ward 4, 7, Airdrie

1 To Be Elected

Dan Penna: I support teachers and their concerns. The current strike seems less about education and more about politics. The union leadership will lose no pay while the strike will in effect cost teachers as much money as the pay raise they are rejecting.

Maria-Teresa Vecchio-Romano: No response.

Ward 6, 8

1 To Be Elected

Trent Will Cherak: No response.

Valerie A. Dove: No response.

Lory Iovinelli: I have consistently advocated for equitable funding, timely school construction, and increased supports for teachers, staff, and families. I will continue pressing the government to reduce class sizes, fund new schools in growing areas, and provide adequate resources for teachers. Teachers deserve fair wages, safe working conditions, and well-funded classrooms. Despite being among the lowest-funded students in Canada, Alberta students consistently perform at high levels — a testament to the dedication of our educators. The Board has long supported our teachers, with staff and student well-being among our four key priorities. Through advocacy, we have: • Secured a $1.8 million Mental Health in Schools Pilot Grant, funding wellness workers in 21 elementary schools. • Advocated for increased provincial funding for specialized learning supports in Budget 2025. • Become the only school district in Canada to employ a district doctor, ensuring expert medical insight for student needs. I will continue to advocate for our teachers' ensuring they have the support, respect, and resources needed to help every child thrive.

Ward 9, 10, Chestermere

1 To Be Elected

Shannon Cook: No response.

Ward 11, 12

1 To Be Elected

Chantelle Dur: No response.

Ward 13, 14

1 To Be Elected

Amelia Arriaga: No response.

Steve Chapman: Obviously a strike negatively impacts our students. not to mention parents, non union staff, all the other people who make education possible. I can only hope that this strike is short lived so that our children can get back to school with as minimal an interruption as possible.

Kimberly Metcalf: I feel teachers have some valid concerns especially with class sizes but a strike will be detrimental to students academics and overall well being.