Winnipeg Election 2018

Colleen Carswell - River East - Transcona - 1

Why did you decide to run in the 2018 (Winnipeg Civic Election / School Board Election)?

In my endeavour to find the answer I have reflected back on the last 4 years at both my accomplishments and failures, and also how effectively the School Board has operated.

I decided to run because I want to continue my work as a school trustee. I want to make a difference in the lives of children by educating them to their fullest potential, by supporting initiatives at the early years to help our younger children build a strong educational foundation.  At the Middle and Senior Years by providing relevant programming for today’s learner.  We need to adapt our programs to the needs of today’s world to prepare our students.

I want to continue to;

• focus on student achievement through programming and assessment
• provide a safe and healthy environment in which our children can learn
• help parents deal with their concerns by being accessible and approachable to them by being a full time Trustee
• work with staff to ensure the necessary resources and supports are in place to support our children

I want to be a school trustee so that I can continue to be a strong voice for my community of Transcona at the board table.

What experience will you bring to complement your role as (Mayor / Councillor / School Trustee)?

I bring 26 years of experience to my role as a school trustee.

My track record demonstrates strong leadership, proven ability, effectiveness and the dedication to my role as a school trustee by dedicating full time to the job.  I also bring strong negotiation skills, and have a financial background.

I have been Chairman of the Board for the last 4 years, and Vice-Chairman.  I have sat as the Chairman or committee member on many of the boards committees.  I have also sat on committees at the provincial level for education.

I bring strong leadership skills to the table and I work collaboratively with others.  I bring excellent communication skills, common sense and a genuine passion for children, staff and my community of Transcona.

What are some issues that you would like to stand for in your role as (Mayor / Councillor / School Trustee), and why are these issues important to you?

One of the issues we have in Transcona is the growth that we are experiencing across our community, but none more visible than when you go down Transcona Blvd.

More houses means more children, more children means a need for more space and resources in our schools. More teachers, more classrooms, more desks, more busses etc.  We need to be both educationally and fiscally responsible when we deal with this issue and that means sometimes making decisions that are not always popular but are the right decisions for all involved.

Amalgamation would be the second. Although it’s uncertain at this point in time, we need to make sure whatever the effects of amalgamation the provincial government deems necessary that those decisions do not affect the classroom.

The third would be the inequity in funding that presently exists in the province for funding school divisions. This needs to be addressed so that equity and fairness are achieved both by the school divisions who receive the funding and by the taxpayers who are paying for public education.  We need to resolve the way we collect school taxes and how to then distribute them in a fair and equitable manner across the province.

What is something that you appreciate about the (City of Winnipeg / the ward / the school ward or school division) you wish to represent?

The one thing that I appreciate the most about my ward, which is the Transcona Ward, is the pride and sense of community that we have here in Transcona. We are truly a community unto ourselves.  We celebrate, mourn, care and help one another.  To represent this ward has been a great honour.  The people of Transcona support public education and have supported me for the past 26 years and for that I am truly grateful.

As for the school division, that would be River East Transcona School Division. I truly appreciate the people that work there.  From the board office to maintenance, transportation, to everyone who work in our schools. These people are hardworking and dedicated to making this division the best it can be so that we can educate our students so that they can attain their fullest potential.  We excel in the area of being “educational leaders” in assessment, curriculum implementation, student services, technology and early years interventions.  These accomplishments can only be achieved through the hard work and dedication of the staff of the River East Transcona School Division.

Do you have any other comments regarding your candidacy?

I want to thank my community for the privilege they extended to me four years ago. Given the opportunity, I will continue to dedicate myself wholeheartedly to being a Trustee, mindful of the concerns of all whom I represent.

The future holds many challenges for us in Transcona.  You need an experienced Trustee with a strong voice to ensure that our schools and programs do not diminish.  As your Trustee, I will continue to be a strong advocate for our children.

I am committed to:

• Being a full time trustee, dedicated to representing your interests in a strong and effective manner.
• Ensuring fiscal responsibility and accountability to taxpayers by striving to balance the needs and opinions of all those I represent.
• Providing our children with a safe, stimulating and healthy environment in which to learn

We need to educate each and every child to their fullest potential, always keeping in mind the ability of taxpayers to pay for that education.  It truly is a balancing act. To accomplish this we much believe in the importance of education and support it as a community.

It would be an honour to be re-elected and serve as your School Trustee for Transcona.