How To Vote
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Election Survey
| Ward | Candidate Name | Responded |
|---|---|---|
| Ward 71 | Mona-Lee Feehan | ❌ |
| Leah Fiorillo | ❌ | |
| Ward 72 | Sandra Palazzo | ❌ |
| Annette Valstar | ✅ | |
| Ward 73 | Ron Fernandes | ❌ |
| Kara Pelech | ❌ | |
| Mark Swanson | ❌ | |
| Ward 74 | Debbie Engel | ❌ |
| Berchman Parcon | ❌ | |
| Ward 75 | Alene Mutala | ❌ |
| Ward 76 | Lisa Castell Turchansky | ❌ |
| Susan Johnson | ❌ | |
| Ward 77 | Santo Chines | ❌ |
| Laura Thibert | ❌ |
Question 1
Parents have consistently said they believe school boards should prioritize core academics. Do you believe that priority is currently reflected in your school board's budget? If not, what would you change?
Ward 71
1 To Be Elected
Mona-Lee Feehan: No response.
Leah Fiorillo: No response.
Ward 72
1 To Be Elected
Sandra Palazzo: No response.
Annette Valstar: Subject areas are not clearly defined in the budget. A deeper look into the various budgeted programs needs to happen in order to see if core academics have priority. High standards should be the expectation in all areas taught in our schools.
Ward 73
1 To Be Elected
Ron Fernandes: No response.
Kara Pelech: No response.
Mark Swanson: No response.
Ward 74
1 To Be Elected
Debbie Engel: No response.
Berchman Parcon: No response.
Ward 75
1 To Be Elected
Alene Mutala: No response.
Ward 76
1 To Be Elected
Lisa Castell Turchansky: No response.
Susan Johnson: No response.
Ward 77
1 To Be Elected
Santo Chines: No response.
Laura Thibert: No response.
Question 2
Do you believe the money following the student to the education that parents choose is an important element of accountability for public education or a threat?
Ward 71
1 To Be Elected
Mona-Lee Feehan: No response.
Leah Fiorillo: No response.
Ward 72
1 To Be Elected
Sandra Palazzo: No response.
Annette Valstar: It's probably both. Or a warning to the Government and School boards of the dissatisfaction of parents and general taxpayers about low standards and undue attention to nonessential and even dangerous trends taking over school time. Parents ability to chose the place of their childs education and how it is delivered is a good check on this.
Ward 73
1 To Be Elected
Ron Fernandes: No response.
Kara Pelech: No response.
Mark Swanson: No response.
Ward 74
1 To Be Elected
Debbie Engel: No response.
Berchman Parcon: No response.
Ward 75
1 To Be Elected
Alene Mutala: No response.
Ward 76
1 To Be Elected
Lisa Castell Turchansky: No response.
Susan Johnson: No response.
Ward 77
1 To Be Elected
Santo Chines: No response.
Laura Thibert: No response.
Question 3
Do you believe local decision-makers should take responsibility for local decisions, or do you believe decisions are best made centrally?
Ward 71
1 To Be Elected
Mona-Lee Feehan: No response.
Leah Fiorillo: No response.
Ward 72
1 To Be Elected
Sandra Palazzo: No response.
Annette Valstar: I think it is best for a blend of both. Specific needs are addressed locally and a central outlook sees the commonality or unique to the area concerns. For cost effeciency common needs can be addressed centrally and specific needs locally.
Ward 73
1 To Be Elected
Ron Fernandes: No response.
Kara Pelech: No response.
Mark Swanson: No response.
Ward 74
1 To Be Elected
Debbie Engel: No response.
Berchman Parcon: No response.
Ward 75
1 To Be Elected
Alene Mutala: No response.
Ward 76
1 To Be Elected
Lisa Castell Turchansky: No response.
Susan Johnson: No response.
Ward 77
1 To Be Elected
Santo Chines: No response.
Laura Thibert: No response.
Question 4
Do you believe your school board is currently transparent enough with parents and taxpayers? What would you change?
Ward 71
1 To Be Elected
Mona-Lee Feehan: No response.
Leah Fiorillo: No response.
Ward 72
1 To Be Elected
Sandra Palazzo: No response.
Annette Valstar: Not really. It is transparent about generally approved programs but does not announce openly changes it knows will not be approved, like introducing anti Catholic dei into the schools. I would not allow any anti Catholic secular ideology into our Schools except in a senior level discussion on all ideologies for purposes of debate and critical thinking.
Ward 73
1 To Be Elected
Ron Fernandes: No response.
Kara Pelech: No response.
Mark Swanson: No response.
Ward 74
1 To Be Elected
Debbie Engel: No response.
Berchman Parcon: No response.
Ward 75
1 To Be Elected
Alene Mutala: No response.
Ward 76
1 To Be Elected
Lisa Castell Turchansky: No response.
Susan Johnson: No response.
Ward 77
1 To Be Elected
Santo Chines: No response.
Laura Thibert: No response.
Question 5
Can you commit to removing any policies that require secrets to be kept from parents by policy, without an individual, exceptional circumstance being identified?
Ward 71
1 To Be Elected
Mona-Lee Feehan: No response.
Leah Fiorillo: No response.
Ward 72
1 To Be Elected
Sandra Palazzo: No response.
Annette Valstar: There is no reason to have a policy keeping information from parents. That insultingly implies parents do not have their childs best interest as foremost. If a school suspects abuse it is their responsibilty under law and subject to fines to withhold that information from the proper authorities. There should be NO policy keeping information from parents.
Ward 73
1 To Be Elected
Ron Fernandes: No response.
Kara Pelech: No response.
Mark Swanson: No response.
Ward 74
1 To Be Elected
Debbie Engel: No response.
Berchman Parcon: No response.
Ward 75
1 To Be Elected
Alene Mutala: No response.
Ward 76
1 To Be Elected
Lisa Castell Turchansky: No response.
Susan Johnson: No response.
Ward 77
1 To Be Elected
Santo Chines: No response.
Laura Thibert: No response.
Question 6
Do you believe parents should be informed before abortion, sexual assault, marriage, or questions about deciding to have children are covered in school, in a way similar to the requirements around sexual identity or religious identity?
Ward 71
1 To Be Elected
Mona-Lee Feehan: No response.
Leah Fiorillo: No response.
Ward 72
1 To Be Elected
Sandra Palazzo: No response.
Annette Valstar: Subjects of abortion,euthanasia, marriage and family planning should be taught from a Catholic perspective. Catholic resources used, like "Theology of the body". Catholic virtues like modesty, chastity and self-control are presented as a positive character development that is freeing and joyful, not rigid and oppressive. Secular so called sex-ed pressures students to accept deviant behaviour as normal. That is why there is so much depression among teens . They are not given true choice or all the facts.
Ward 73
1 To Be Elected
Ron Fernandes: No response.
Kara Pelech: No response.
Mark Swanson: No response.
Ward 74
1 To Be Elected
Debbie Engel: No response.
Berchman Parcon: No response.
Ward 75
1 To Be Elected
Alene Mutala: No response.
Ward 76
1 To Be Elected
Lisa Castell Turchansky: No response.
Susan Johnson: No response.
Ward 77
1 To Be Elected
Santo Chines: No response.
Laura Thibert: No response.
Question 7
Do you believe program and course development at the school board level must be transparent and focused on clearly defined knowledge outcomes?
Ward 71
1 To Be Elected
Mona-Lee Feehan: No response.
Leah Fiorillo: No response.
Ward 72
1 To Be Elected
Sandra Palazzo: No response.
Annette Valstar: Subject and course development should be by subject professionals based on unchangeable age development. Around this unchangeable framework course material is factual unbiased and suitable for the intellectual age of the student.Catholic values should be embedded in all subject matter. Boards can provide oversight. Parents have the right and the responsibilty to see their child's teachers plan and source material in all subjects. They should inform both principal and teacher about their intention. A good teacher will be not only happy but enthusiastic about sharing information and year plans and might even ask for your partcipation in some class activities.
Ward 73
1 To Be Elected
Ron Fernandes: No response.
Kara Pelech: No response.
Mark Swanson: No response.
Ward 74
1 To Be Elected
Debbie Engel: No response.
Berchman Parcon: No response.
Ward 75
1 To Be Elected
Alene Mutala: No response.
Ward 76
1 To Be Elected
Lisa Castell Turchansky: No response.
Susan Johnson: No response.
Ward 77
1 To Be Elected
Santo Chines: No response.
Laura Thibert: No response.
Question 8
What are your thoughts on communicating progress clearly with letter grades and percentages, as opposed to "descriptive grading", at all grade levels?
Ward 71
1 To Be Elected
Mona-Lee Feehan: No response.
Leah Fiorillo: No response.
Ward 72
1 To Be Elected
Sandra Palazzo: No response.
Annette Valstar: I'm in favour of letter grades and percentages. It clearly and easily communicates where their child is at. It keeps the bar high in all subject areas. It shows parents, students and teachers what needs to be worked on. There should be clear pass or fail standards. Chiñdren with cognitive or other deficits will be graded according to their particular program goals.
Ward 73
1 To Be Elected
Ron Fernandes: No response.
Kara Pelech: No response.
Mark Swanson: No response.
Ward 74
1 To Be Elected
Debbie Engel: No response.
Berchman Parcon: No response.
Ward 75
1 To Be Elected
Alene Mutala: No response.
Ward 76
1 To Be Elected
Lisa Castell Turchansky: No response.
Susan Johnson: No response.
Ward 77
1 To Be Elected
Santo Chines: No response.
Laura Thibert: No response.
Question 9
Professional development days for teachers and other school board staff are negotiated locally. Do you believe your school board currently has negotiated the right number of professional development days? If not, what changes would you like to advocate for?
Ward 71
1 To Be Elected
Mona-Lee Feehan: No response.
Leah Fiorillo: No response.
Ward 72
1 To Be Elected
Sandra Palazzo: No response.
Annette Valstar: Once a month is enough to work on addressing particular deficits in each school. For example, faith development and understanding Spiritual and Corporal works of mercy and how that translates to genuine Christian social justice.
Ward 73
1 To Be Elected
Ron Fernandes: No response.
Kara Pelech: No response.
Mark Swanson: No response.
Ward 74
1 To Be Elected
Debbie Engel: No response.
Berchman Parcon: No response.
Ward 75
1 To Be Elected
Alene Mutala: No response.
Ward 76
1 To Be Elected
Lisa Castell Turchansky: No response.
Susan Johnson: No response.
Ward 77
1 To Be Elected
Santo Chines: No response.
Laura Thibert: No response.
Question 10
Do you support or oppose the impending teachers' strike? Please explain your reasoning.
Ward 71
1 To Be Elected
Mona-Lee Feehan: No response.
Leah Fiorillo: No response.
Ward 72
1 To Be Elected
Sandra Palazzo: No response.
Annette Valstar: I'm not in favour of strikes. It shows a breakdown in the effectiveness of unions and sows divisisivness between parents and teachers. We need that balance between government and unions but im not sure what the sticking point is that found the government offer unacceptable.
Ward 73
1 To Be Elected
Ron Fernandes: No response.
Kara Pelech: No response.
Mark Swanson: No response.
Ward 74
1 To Be Elected
Debbie Engel: No response.
Berchman Parcon: No response.
Ward 75
1 To Be Elected
Alene Mutala: No response.
Ward 76
1 To Be Elected
Lisa Castell Turchansky: No response.
Susan Johnson: No response.
Ward 77
1 To Be Elected
Santo Chines: No response.
Laura Thibert: No response.