At Large

5 To Be Elected

Dale Barfoot: No response.

Chantal Beaver: Given current budget constraints, it's a constant challenge to balance priorities. I believe the local school board should continue to evaluate how well core academics are being supported.

Timothy J. Byron: No response.

Paula Galenzoski: No response.

Kara Haack: I think the FMCSD does prioritize core academics. However, being a Catholic school system, it should also emphasize a Catholic perspective across all subjects areas.

Lindsey King: No response.

Cathie Langmead: No response.

Cathy Larson: No response.

Donna Park: No response.

Clyde Phillips: No response.

Elliott Pierre: No response.

Misty Preshyon-Snook: Parents have consistently emphasized that school boards should prioritize core academics, and I believe this focus is reflected in our current budget to some extent — but there is definitely room for improvement. To truly strengthen academic outcomes, I would like to see greater consideration given to students with learning disabilities, smaller class sizes, and increased support for teachers. When educators are properly supported and classrooms are more manageable, every child — regardless of learning style or ability — has a better opportunity to succeed academically.

Janeen Samson: No response.

Peter Shaijan: No response.

Marta Soupal: No response.

Jeff Walsh: No response.

At Large

5 To Be Elected

Dale Barfoot: No response.

Chantal Beaver: It's important to consider both accountability and sustainability when funding follows the student, and we need to ensure public education remains strong for all Albertans.

Timothy J. Byron: No response.

Paula Galenzoski: No response.

Kara Haack: I think this is fair. It is the student ultimately who should benefit from funding.

Lindsey King: No response.

Cathie Langmead: No response.

Cathy Larson: No response.

Donna Park: No response.

Clyde Phillips: No response.

Elliott Pierre: No response.

Misty Preshyon-Snook: I think giving parents the flexibility to choose the best educational setting for their child is valuable and can help schools stay responsive to families' needs. At the same time, we must make sure public schools aren't weakened in the process. Every student deserves a high-quality education, so funding decisions should support both parental choice and the long-term success of all public schools.

Janeen Samson: No response.

Peter Shaijan: No response.

Marta Soupal: No response.

Jeff Walsh: No response.

At Large

5 To Be Elected

Dale Barfoot: No response.

Chantal Beaver: I believe schools and communities are intricately connected, and local decision-makers are best positioned to understand and respond to the unique needs of their communities. That said, the Education Act has to be upheld, as do other key provincial mandates.

Timothy J. Byron: No response.

Paula Galenzoski: No response.

Kara Haack: Most day to day decisions can be made at the local level. Decisions having to do with official school policy, mission, and identity should be made centrally.

Lindsey King: No response.

Cathie Langmead: No response.

Cathy Larson: No response.

Donna Park: No response.

Clyde Phillips: No response.

Elliott Pierre: No response.

Misty Preshyon-Snook: I believe decisions about our schools should be made as close to the community as possible. Local leaders, parents, and educators know their students best and can make choices that reflect the values and needs of the area. Central oversight can be helpful for setting broad standards, but local input and accountability are key to student success.

Janeen Samson: No response.

Peter Shaijan: No response.

Marta Soupal: No response.

Jeff Walsh: No response.

At Large

5 To Be Elected

Dale Barfoot: No response.

Chantal Beaver: There's always room to improve transparency. I believe in clear communication about how and why decisions are made.

Timothy J. Byron: No response.

Paula Galenzoski: No response.

Kara Haack: The current Catholic school board in Ft. McMurray appears to have a closed door policy. Parents have expressed to me their concerns about a lack of transparency. Some parents feel their concerns were being ignored or brushed aside.

Lindsey King: No response.

Cathie Langmead: No response.

Cathy Larson: No response.

Donna Park: No response.

Clyde Phillips: No response.

Elliott Pierre: No response.

Misty Preshyon-Snook: No, I don't believe the school board is transparent enough. Parents and taxpayers should have easy access to information about where money is going and why certain decisions are made. Improving communication, publishing clearer reports, and encouraging genuine community input would go a long way toward restoring confidence and collaboration.

Janeen Samson: No response.

Peter Shaijan: No response.

Marta Soupal: No response.

Jeff Walsh: No response.

At Large

5 To Be Elected

Dale Barfoot: No response.

Chantal Beaver: I believe that parents should be respected as partners in their children's education. I am also a strong believer in making informed and balanced decisions and will not comment on removing any current policies without a complete and thorough understanding of how they came to be in the first place or without balanced consultation.

Timothy J. Byron: No response.

Paula Galenzoski: No response.

Kara Haack: Yes, I believe school boards should try to be transparent and collaborative with all stakeholders.

Lindsey King: No response.

Cathie Langmead: No response.

Cathy Larson: No response.

Donna Park: No response.

Clyde Phillips: No response.

Elliott Pierre: No response.

Misty Preshyon-Snook: Yes, I can commit to that. Parents have a fundamental right to be informed and involved in their child's education and well-being. Policies that require withholding information from parents undermine trust and transparency. The only exceptions should be in clearly defined, individual circumstances where a student's safety or privacy is genuinely at risk. Outside of those rare cases, open communication between schools and families should always be the standard.

Janeen Samson: No response.

Peter Shaijan: No response.

Marta Soupal: No response.

Jeff Walsh: No response.

At Large

5 To Be Elected

Dale Barfoot: No response.

Chantal Beaver: Parents should know when sensitive topics are a part of student learning, and that has, in fact, been my experience as a parent.

Timothy J. Byron: No response.

Paula Galenzoski: No response.

Kara Haack: If you choose to enroll your child in a Catholic school, it should be understood that your child will be receiving an instruction pertaining to Catholic identity. Parents should be informed when/if information that conflicts with Catholic teaching is presented. Parents should be informed before students are instructed on anything pertaining to sexuality.

Lindsey King: No response.

Cathie Langmead: No response.

Cathy Larson: No response.

Donna Park: No response.

Clyde Phillips: No response.

Elliott Pierre: No response.

Misty Preshyon-Snook: Yes, I believe parents should be informed before sensitive topics such as abortion, sexual assault, marriage, or decisions about having children are discussed in school. These are deeply personal and complex issues, and parents have the right to know when and how they are being introduced to students. Just as we notify families about discussions on topics like sexual or religious identity, the same level of transparency and communication should apply here. This ensures that parents can be active partners in guiding their children's learning and values.

Janeen Samson: No response.

Peter Shaijan: No response.

Marta Soupal: No response.

Jeff Walsh: No response.

At Large

5 To Be Elected

Dale Barfoot: No response.

Chantal Beaver: Yes. As a trained evaluator, I strongly believe in outcome-based programs and education.

Timothy J. Byron: No response.

Paula Galenzoski: No response.

Kara Haack: All fully publicly funded schools in Alberta are required to follow the Alberta Program of Studies. This ensures that students are following clearly defined learning outcomes. Individual schools and school systems have the freedom to choose the resources they think will best meet these defined outcomes.

Lindsey King: No response.

Cathie Langmead: No response.

Cathy Larson: No response.

Donna Park: No response.

Clyde Phillips: No response.

Elliott Pierre: No response.

Misty Preshyon-Snook: Yes, absolutely. Program and course development should be transparent and centered on clearly defined knowledge outcomes. Parents, teachers, and the community deserve to understand what students are expected to learn and how success will be measured. Transparency ensures accountability, and a strong focus on academic outcomes helps keep our schools aligned with their core mission—providing every student with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

Janeen Samson: No response.

Peter Shaijan: No response.

Marta Soupal: No response.

Jeff Walsh: No response.

At Large

5 To Be Elected

Dale Barfoot: No response.

Chantal Beaver: I believe grading methods should be easy for parents and students to understand at every grade level, while reflecting pedagogy and best practices.

Timothy J. Byron: No response.

Paula Galenzoski: No response.

Kara Haack: Percentages are a clear and simple way of communicating student progress so I think this should be the standard. However, in the case of students with severe learning disabilities or children enrolled in early entry programs I think "descriptive grading" is sufficient.

Lindsey King: No response.

Cathie Langmead: No response.

Cathy Larson: No response.

Donna Park: No response.

Clyde Phillips: No response.

Elliott Pierre: No response.

Misty Preshyon-Snook: I believe clear, consistent communication about student progress is essential. Letter grades and percentages provide families with straightforward, measurable information about achievement and progress, which helps identify where additional support may be needed. While descriptive feedback can add valuable context, it should complement—not replace—traditional grading. Parents and students deserve clarity and objectivity in understanding academic performance at every grade level.

Janeen Samson: No response.

Peter Shaijan: No response.

Marta Soupal: No response.

Jeff Walsh: No response.

At Large

5 To Be Elected

Dale Barfoot: No response.

Chantal Beaver: Professional development is important for quality teaching. With that said, parents often struggle with the number of non-school Friday's dedicated to PD so I'm open to reviewing, and better understanding, the number of PD days to balance learning time (without extended school years) and teacher growth.

Timothy J. Byron: No response.

Paula Galenzoski: No response.

Kara Haack: I think the amount of PD days allocated is sufficient.

Lindsey King: No response.

Cathie Langmead: No response.

Cathy Larson: No response.

Donna Park: No response.

Clyde Phillips: No response.

Elliott Pierre: No response.

Misty Preshyon-Snook: I believe teachers need more opportunities for professional development. Continued learning and collaboration are essential for educators to stay current with best practices and to better support students' diverse needs. I would advocate for additional, high-quality professional development days that focus on practical classroom strategies, special education support, and mental health awareness. Investing in our teachers' growth directly benefits our students' success.

Janeen Samson: No response.

Peter Shaijan: No response.

Marta Soupal: No response.

Jeff Walsh: No response.

At Large

5 To Be Elected

Dale Barfoot: No response.

Chantal Beaver: I understand their concerns about workload, support, and fair pay, and I hope for a fair resolution that benefits both educators and students.

Timothy J. Byron: No response.

Paula Galenzoski: No response.

Kara Haack: It is my understanding that the government of Alberta has agreed to grant most of what the ATA was demanding, so I'm not sure why the strike is necessary.

Lindsey King: No response.

Cathie Langmead: No response.

Cathy Larson: No response.

Donna Park: No response.

Clyde Phillips: No response.

Elliott Pierre: No response.

Misty Preshyon-Snook: I support the teachers. They are trying to provide important feedback about the challenges they face in the classroom, but their concerns are not being heard. Large class sizes, cutbacks, and lack of support make it increasingly difficult for teachers to give students the attention and quality education they deserve. The strike reflects a need for meaningful dialogue and real solutions—not just temporary fixes.

Janeen Samson: No response.

Peter Shaijan: No response.

Marta Soupal: No response.

Jeff Walsh: No response.