In the Oct. 1 edition of The Lake Report, we shared the thoughts of some of the Niagara residents who are running, or re-running, for a role as one of a handful of trustees for the District School Board of Niagara and the Niagara Catholic District School Board. Eleven trustees will be elected to District School Board of Niagara, while eight will be elected to the Catholic school board.

We asked the nominees what their top three priorities would be as a school board trustee, why they decided to run and what they would like to change or fix at the school board level.

We also asked for their perspectives on the ramifications of the Ontario government’s Bill 101, which passed in May this year and gives the province more oversight of school boards, including what those changes mean for local students and families and how locally elected trustees can still make a meaningful difference.

Now, we’re sharing responses from a few more candidates, including one candidate re-running for trustee for the Conseil scolaire Viamonde, the French-language public school board for much of southern Ontario. That board has 12 trustees, including one from the Nigara region.

Here’s what they had to say.

Candidates for District School Board of Niagara:

Mark Matchem

What would your top three priorities be as school board trustee? 

My first priority is simple: no kid should be forgotten. Every student deserves to be valued, challenged and given the tools they need to succeed on the path ahead of them.

Second, I want parents to be treated as real partners in their children’s education, with good communication and opportunities to be heard.

Third, I want to make sure we’re using our resources responsibly. Every dollar we spend is money entrusted to us by the public, and we need to make sure it’s actually helping students and supporting the people working with them every day.

What made you choose to run for trustee? 

I’m a husband, a dad of three and a longtime volunteer with children and youth. I’ve also spent most of my career in public service, including many years in higher education. I’ve seen the difference it makes when someone recognizes a child’s potential, challenges them and refuses to let them fall through the cracks.

That’s a big part of why I’m running. I’m a problem-solver by nature. I like listening, asking questions, figuring out what isn’t working and finding practical ways to make it better. I think I can bring that approach to the school board.

What would you like to change or fix at the school board level? 

One thing I’d really like to improve is communication with parents and the community. People shouldn’t feel like they’re finding out about decisions after they’ve already been made. I want us to listen earlier and do a better job explaining not just what we’re doing, but why. I’d also like to look carefully at where our resources are going and whether what we’re doing is actually working.

I don’t come into this assuming I have all the answers. I want to listen, ask questions, look at the evidence and work respectfully with people, even when we don’t agree. 

What do changes imposed by Bill 101 mean for students and families, and how can locally elected trustees still make a meaningful difference?

The role of a trustee may look different under Bill 101, but I don’t believe that makes the local voice any less important. Families still need someone who will listen when something isn’t working, bring their concerns forward and ask questions about how decisions affect students in our communities. T

rustees can still advocate, communicate and make sure local experiences are part of the conversation. There is still room to make a meaningful difference. Some of the focus may have changed, but the goal hasn’t: representing our community and doing what we can to help students succeed.

M. Areeb Aijaz

What would your top three priorities be as school board trustee?

Priority 1: Mental health is one of the greatest challenges facing our children today. The relentless increase in screen time is contributing to unhealthy levels of stress, anxiety, lonliness and shorter attention span. I am committed to being a strong advocate for programs/workshops like mindfulness and mental health exercises for kids, resources, and policies that support the mental well-being of every child.

Priority 2: In [the] digital age, we need to create more opportunities for young people to connect, learn, and grow face-to-face. I will advocate for increased access to programs that help children develop essential life skills such as public speaking, teamwork, leadership, debate, volunteering and community engagement. These experiences help young people build self-confidence, strengthen social connections and develop the communication skills they need to succeed in school, work and life.

Priority 3: I will advocate for greater engagement with parents, students and community members, while ensuring that visible minority communities have a strong voice and meaningful representation on the board. Diverse representation leads to better decisions, stronger trust, and policies that address the needs of all students.

What made you choose to run for trustee?

As a parent of five children ranging in age from four to 12, I am deeply invested in the future of our schools and our community. Every day, I see both the opportunities and challenges that today’s students face, from increasing screen time and mental-health concerns to the need for stronger community engagement and representation.

I decided to run for trustee because I want to be a strong voice for students, parents and families. I believe our children deserve a school system that not only focuses on academic success but also supports their mental wellbeing, builds confidence through real-life experiences and ensures every family feels heard and represented.

What would you like to change or fix at the school board level?

Currently, we do not have enough diversity represented on the DSBN board. I would work to ensure that the voices of visible minority communities are also heard, valued and reflected in decision-making. Our board should better represent the students and families it serves, bringing a wider range of perspectives and experiences to the table.

Greater representation leads to better outcomes, stronger trust within the community and more inclusive policies for all students.

What do changes imposed by Bill 101 mean for students and families, and how can locally elected trustees still make a meaningful difference?

Bill 101 has increased the responsibility of trustees to serve as strong advocates for students, families and communities. While the province now has greater oversight of school board operations, locally elected trustees continue to play a very critical role as the connection between families and the board. They are responsible for listening to parents, students, educators and community members, bringing local concerns forward, and ensuring that community voices are reflected in board discussions and decisions.

Candidates for Niagara Catholic District School Board:

Alex McKee

What would your top three priorities be as school board trustee?

They are your children, you have the ultimate authority by natural law, and it’s your money. We must and we can, easily and cheaply, go back to core curriculum.

Publicly funded education has become extremely bloated: 85 per cent of budget is wages and salaries. Average salaries are $120,000-plus. Too many homes are having a hard time making ends meet. Parent-controlled education is half of that.

As a trustee, I will strive to revolutionize our system with tax paying parents becoming more hands-on. We can actually get back some of our school taxes.

What made you choose to run for trustee?

As a fifth-generation educator and ex-teacher I know first-hand what teachers actually talk about in their staff rooms. They love their students, they love to teach, but are handcuffed by the system. I have accumulated the needed managerial talent to begin to effect (sic) the above.

What would you like to change or fix at the school board level?

The great Broadway play “Up the Down Staircase” celebrated and forecast the erosion of our system. For the sake of our nation, for the sake of our children, the system must be revolutionized. It’s what we all want — no more Band-Aids. Join the parents’ revolution.

What do changes imposed by Bill 101 mean for students and families, and how can locally elected trustees still make a meaningful difference?

No response provided.

Candidates for Conseil scolaire Viamonde:

Marcel Tikeng (Answers provided in French and English)

Qu’est ce que vos trois grandes priorités?

D’abord, l’espace: trop d’élèves francophones apprennent dans des portatives ou passent une heure en autobus, parce que nos écoles n’ont pas suivi la croissance. Je continuerai à me battre pour de nouvelles écoles et un financement équitable des immobilisations.

Ensuite, le personnel: la pénurie d’enseignants francophones est réelle, et je défendrai le recrutement, la rétention et le soutien du personnel.

Enfin, la réussite et le bien-être: littératie, numératie, santé mentale et inclusion des élèves nouveaux arrivants et à besoins particuliers, pour que les familles choisissent l’école française de la maternelle à la 12e année.

Pourquoi vous présentez-vous?

L’éducation en français est un droit constitutionnel, mais un droit n’a de valeur que s’il est concrétisé. Pendant mon premier mandat, j’ai vu à quel point les décisions prises à la table du conseil façonnent le quotidien d’un enfant : une école à proximité, un enseignant en classe, du soutien quand il en a besoin.

Ma formation en finance, en gestion et en services sociaux me permet d’analyser un budget avec rigueur tout en gardant l’élève au centre. Je me représente pour terminer le travail entrepris et protéger les acquis durement gagnés par nos familles.

Qu’est ce que vous aimeriez changer?

L’écart entre notre croissance et nos ressources. Les inscriptions francophones augmentent, notamment grâce aux familles nouvellement arrivées dans la région, mais nous attendons trop longtemps de nouvelles écoles et par conséquent, nous perdons trop d’adolescents au profit des écoles secondaires anglophones.

Je militerai pour des approbations d’immobilisations plus rapides, des programmes secondaires plus forts en métiers, sciences et arts qui gardent nos jeunes en français, et des budgets plus transparents pour que les parents puissent suivre et influencer les décisions. Chaque dollar doit avoir un impact positif sur les élèves.

Concernant le projet de loi 101, comment les conseillers peuvent-ils encore avoir un impact significatif?

Pour les conseils de langue française, le projet de loi 101 respecte en grande partie notre gouvernance: l’article 23 de la Charte garantit notre droit de gérer nos écoles. Nous conservons donc nos conseillers élus, sans avoir des directeurs ou des CEOs imposés par la province.

Les familles ressentiront toutefois des changements: ressources d’apprentissage uniformisées, nouvelles exigences en matière d’examens et d’assiduité, et dépenses plus encadrées.

C’est précisément pourquoi les conseillers comptent: nous veillons à ce que les règles provinciales respectent la langue et la culture francophones, nous défendons nos droits constitutionnels et nous portons la voix des parents à Queen’s Park.

What would your top three priorities be as school board trustee?

First, space: too many francophone students learn in portables or ride buses for an hour because our schools haven’t kept pace with growth. I’ll keep fighting for new schools and fair capital funding.

Second, people: the French-language teacher shortage is real, and I’ll champion recruitment, retention and support for staff so every class has a qualified teacher.

Third, student success and well-being: strong literacy and numeracy, mental health supports, and real inclusion for newcomer and special-needs students, so families choose French education from kindergarten to Grade 12, and stay.

What made you choose to run for trustee?

Education is a constitutional right, but a right only matters if it’s delivered. During my first term, I saw how decisions at the board table shape a child’s daily life: whether there’s a school nearby, a teacher in the classroom, support when they struggle.

My background in finance, management and social services lets me read a budget critically while keeping students at the centre. I’m running again to finish what we started and to protect what francophone families fought so hard to win.

What would you like to change or fix at the school board level?

The gap between our growth and our resources. Francophone enrolment keeps rising, especially with newcomer families, yet we wait too long for new schools and lose too many teens to English-language high schools.

I’ll push for faster capital approvals, stronger secondary programs in trades, STEM and the arts that keep students in French, and provide clearer budgets and communication so parents can follow and influence decisions. Every dollar should be traceable to classroom impact.

What do changes imposed by Bill 101 mean for students and families, and how can locally elected trustees still make a meaningful difference?

For French-language boards, Bill 101 largely respects our governance: Section 23 of the Charter guarantees our right to manage our own schools, so we keep our elected trustees and no provincially imposed CEO. But families will still feel changes such as: standardized learning resources, new exam and attendance requirements, and tighter spending limits.

That’s exactly why trustees matter. We ensure provincial rules are applied in ways that respect francophone language and culture, we defend our constitutional rights, and we carry parents’ voices to Queen’s Park.