Linda Crouch, current District School Board of Niagara trustee is not running for re-election, though recently she's sought independent community volunteers to organize two candidates events for the public to learn first-hand about the differences between each of the local school board trustee candidates and decide who will best serve the public’s interests on the local school board.
Crouch said she thinks it is important to engage the community to learn about who will best protect public education in Niagara.
“On Oct. 22's municipal election, four English School Board Trustees will be elected to serve the combined areas of St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake. These four Trustees will form part of the eleven member Board of Trustees for the DSBN. These elected trustees make critically important decisions re budget, policies and school openings and closings for public education in Niagara. These decisions impact taxpayers whether they have children in school or not. Two excellent civic-minded community members have stepped forward to organize and moderate two DSBN Trustee Candidates Q&A public events prior to the Oct. 22, 2018 municipal election. The DSBN’s budget is $477 million for 2018/2019, and it accounts for 13 per cent of your tax bill.”
St. Catharines DSBN Trustee Candidates Q&A Event organizer and moderator: Marty Mako. Contact: marty_mako@hotmail.com Cell: 905-401-3740
Location: Grantham Lions Club on Niagara Street
Date: Wednesday Oct. 10 Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m.
“I was the moderator for a similar event with the DSBN Trustee Candidates back in 2014, so I'm looking forward to helping out with this event again. Full disclosure — I am not involved with the campaigns of any trustee candidates in this election. I'm simply an active community volunteer and passionate about public education. I believe this part of the municipal election often flies under the radar and doesn't receive the attention it deserves. Plus both of my parents were public school teachers, and I attended Ferndale Public School and Merritton High School. So if I can help by organizing an information night for the candidates I'm happy to do that The event is hosted by the Grantham Lions Club and the event will also be live streamed by WeeStreem (Ontario's Premier Professional Live Streaming Company). Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su-NSAvqzlk So people can either attend the event in person, or watch it online. The meeting will also be archived online afterwards, so you can share highlights from the event afterwards with your networks as well,” said Marty Mako, organizer of the St. Catharines event.
NOTL DSBN Trustee Candidates Q&A event organizer and moderator: John Mercer. Contact: jdmerc@maxwell.syr.edu Cell: 905-380-6802
Location: In Auditorium A at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre on Anderson Lane
Date: Thursday Oct. 18 Time: 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m.
“Public education is a vital investment in our future. We will all depend on these young people in the years ahead. Along with the health sector, education is the leading expenditure of your provincial taxes. This event is your opportunity to hear from and learn about the people who want to represent you. On Oct. 22, when you use your right to vote, make an informed choice,” said Mercer, in a press release sent to Niagara Now.
