Winnipeg Election 2018

Robert Buternowsky - Winnipeg - 9

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

I have five children who have  been in the Winnipeg School Division system. Unfortunately, the quality of education has not always been as goods as it should have been, especially in areas such as math, sciences and history. This has been borne out in provincial comparisons, where Manitoba has been scoring last or neas last in numerous core areas.

I have approached numerous teachers about this, and it is clear that unsatisfactory situation is the result of direction from above. The school trustees are failing in their responsiblity to ensure that a quality education is being delivered. What are the trustees doing to ensure this intolerable situation is being corrected? Apparently nothing.

I have chosen to run for school trustee to take concrete action to solve this situation. A quality education is the best opportunity for low income students to escape a life of poverty. The current school system is failing the students, and this is not a result of poor teachers or poor students. This is the result of a collective failure on the part of the school trustees, and if I am elected school trustee, I will make this my number one priority.

 

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

In my many years of experience as a lawyer, I have learned to identify the key issues in any situation, discover an optimal solution, develop an optimal route to generating this solution, and advocate positions that can persuade others as to the merits of achieving the solution. In other words, I have learned to be a problem solver, and to be persuasive. In addition, I have found that it is helpful to consult widely and in depth. There is great stores of wisdom and common sense amongst the general public, if only one chooses to engage them with meaningful option.

In my nearly 6 years as a chairman of a regional health authority, I found that it was important to clearly identify the performance benchmarks that you expected the management to achieve, and to evaluate the performance of the management against those benchmarks. You must actively seek information from a variety of sources, and you must be approachable to questions from both within and without. You must engage the public in an active way, and part of this is to provide the public with meaningful information, and then to seek their input on meaningful issues.

 

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?

Quality of Education:  This is my primary issue, as education is the core mandate of the school system. The school system is failing the students, and the trustees should be instructing the management to make changes to improve school performance as quickly as is feasible. Every day of delay is a disservice to the students, especially the low income students, who will have to live a life with poorer opportunities than they should have had.

Communication: There is basically no communication between the trustees and the public, or the parents, or even the students. Communication is an essential part of accountability, and there is no accountability here. I would initiate measures to communicate with parents and with the general public, and even the students. This can be done through public meetings and email communication, and to attend the schools.

Public Input: I would strenuously seek public input from parents, students, and the general public. I will do this by presenting key information to the public in public meetings and through email, and seeking their input on key issues.I believe in being accountable, and this will ensure that I am accountable to the public.

 

 

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

I especially like the diversity in the ward, in the sense of ethnic diversity, income diversity, and age diversity. This results in a wonderfully wide range of viewpoints amongst the public, and a refreshing tolerance for different views. There is a nice mix of single family dwellings, townhouses, apartments and condominiums. There are newly developed areas and older areas.

All of these factors lead to a healthy social structure, and good environment to live and raise a family, as I am doing. However, because it is a pleasant environment, people are perhaps less demanding of a quality school system than they might otherwise be. This ward is fortunate as many people originate from different provinces and different countries, and have seen different school systems. These people can be consulted as to the most efffective way to improve the quality of education.

Do you have any other comments regarding your candidacy?

I am very concerned about the quality of education our children are receiving. At one time, good public education was seen as a route enabling low income children to escape the poverty trap. I still see it this way. We have neglected providing  good public education, and have thereby neglected the poor. I believe this is morally reprehensible, as this society as a moral obligation to provide all of its children, rich and poor alike, with equal access to a good education. That is a pillar of a democratic society.