Yes, this is a writer blog but I am a citizen with children in the District School Board of Niagara public school system. There has been a woeful lack of coverage of the school board election, so I am using my role as a general busybody and citizen to interview the 9 candidates competing for the 4 seats representing St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Adam Christie is the seventh of the 9 candidates to respond to my questions in full.

Question 1. What in your background do you believe prepares you for this public office?

Adam's Reply:

I have been working and coaching kids for over 10 years. I come from a younger generation then the other candidates and fully understand the strengths and struggles that this generation of students are burdened with today. I am here to be their voice.

Question 2. What has been your role in community volunteer work, educational activism and politics?

Adam's Reply:

I was coaching the Niagara District football team when they decided to close the only highschool in Niagara on the Lake. I stood alongside the students to show the region why this school was important in our school system.

3. While local elections are not party-driven, do you have any party affiliations that influence your political ambitions?

Adam's Reply:

No party affiliations at all. I vote for the best candidates that will represent our region.


Question 4. How would you describe the current relationship between elected trustees and hired superintendents? Or, how do you think that relationship should look?

Adam's Reply:

I believe there should be a mutual respect for both positions and hope they can find some common ground when they do not agree on any given issue.

Question 5. The province offers trustees various forms of procedural guidance and training in legal and procedural responsibilities of trustees. Which of these forms of guidance and training will you use and/or participate in to prepare and undertake your role as trustee?

Adam's Reply:

If elected, I will attend the Ontario Public School Board’s Association’s (OPSBA) conferences and Ministry of Education (MOE) workshops offered to trustees to ensure my knowledge is up to date with current provincial issues.

Question 6. Where do you stand on the issue of amalgamation of school boards in Niagara and in Ontario as a whole?

Adam's Reply:

Our number one goal is delivering the best education to our students. I’m sure we need to get our ducks in a row before this happens, and if it does it needs to be done right without compromising the education system.


Question 7. Where do you stand on the issue of provincial oversight of school closure decisions and financial transparency of the DSBN?

Adam's Reply:

The public is upset with many of the ARC decisions. I think by communicating and updating the public during the process will help them reflex on the reasons why the ARC makes the decisions they do. Apparently, the ARC process is being reviewed by the Province. I hope this will give the public the involvement and clarity we are asking for

Question 8. Among members of the public, there appears to be a problem with nepotism in the hiring of teachers in the board. Will you look into this issue and, if so, what would you do?


Adam's Reply:

If elected I will look into this issue.


Question 9. The EQAO results in the DSBN are rather troubling, but standardized testing in general is a controversial issue. What do you think of our students' results on the EQAO and about the role of standardized testing overall?

Adam's Reply:

We should encourage our teachers and staff to develop new systems and teaching styles to develop our students knowledge. A student’s intelligence or educational progress should not be gauged by a simple test.

Question 10. Many members of the public are concerned about the level of support for students with special needs. They have also expressed concern about the continuity of staff assigned to particular individuals and the job security of those staff members. What is your position on how the DSBN is doing supporting students who have special needs and the role of Educational Assistants in providing that support?

Adam's Reply:

The DSBN needs to ensure that we have enough funding to support all aspects that are needed for special needs. I believe this matter is important to all candidates and I will make it a goal to ensure DSBN continues to improve the support of these students and the staff.

Question 11. What do you believe is the role of the trustee in supporting participatory democracy and the role of parents in school board operations?

Adam's Reply:

I think it is very important for our public and students have an active role in the school board processes and decisions. I would like to see the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) allowed to have a stronger voice at DSBN. By working together we can guarantee our students the best education system.

Question 12. Additionally, please provide links to your web site and/or Facebook page and twitter handle.

Adam's Reply:
Currently, not available.

This post reflects whom I've decided to endorse and this summary post explains why. As usual, here is a list of all the candidate information posts I wrote to cover the race:

Ajandi, Jennifer

Atamanyk, Gary

Bradnam, Alex

Campbell, Lora

Christie, Adam

Crouch, Linda

Fast, Jonathan

Longhurst, Eva

Sherwin, Al