My Priorities as a Public School Trustee

Trustees, teachers, parents and members of the communities all have critical roles to play in helping young people to achieve their best.

As a trustee of the public school board my priorities will be:


- Quality of education;


- Well-being of students, teachers and staff;


- Reinforcing human resources;


- Strength and continuation of English as a Second Language (ESL) and Multicultural Liaison Officer (MLO) programs;


- Equity and academic excellence opportunity for all;


- Stability of our school system;


- Increasing the bilingualism rate amongst graduates of Ottawa public schools;


- Making better use of technological advancements;


- Expanding use of school buildings for both students and members of the community;


- Moving towards eco-friendly solutions that are more economical;


- Accurate representation and following through the concerns of Orléans and Cumberland, establishing better communication between Zone 8 and the school board;


and


- Working with all of the other trustees as a team with the goal of higher quality in public education.



I am committed to supporting our students in achieving their academic best by providing them the necessary support for their learning, and aiding them to establish their self-esteem and social responsibility. I am also committed to strengthening human resources and to providing our teachers and staff with the healthy and safe working environment they deserve.


I would like to do my part in making school councils more effective and improving the communication between parents, community members and trustees. I believe in engaging the community. I will strive to be the best possible representative of my constituency and in improving communication channels between all involved parties. I know I will be an asset to the school board in establishing positive working relationships with students, parents, teachers, staff and the board of trustees.


In these tough economic times, it is essential that we maintain the stability and quality of our education system. I believe it's time for innovative approaches to preserve and improve the existing programs and to expand on those that are most needed. English as a Second Language (ESL) and Multicultural Liaison Officer (MLO) programs, and special education are vital not only in maintaining the opportunity equity amongst the students but also in maintaining the health and well-being of teachers. I would like to see more assistance and support for teachers. This way we can prevent the risk of losing valuable staff to burn-out, stress and other health problems. The well-being of our teachers and staff is the well-being of our students, and our students are the future of Canada.


Adapting to the changing times, I would like our schools to be equipped with the new technologies and our students benefiting from the advancements in computer and communication sciences.


From air quality to playgrounds, everything regarding our facilities are my top priority. Our buildings need to be well maintained and better fitted for environmental wear and tear. I would encourage ecological sustainability and long-term money saving projects such as upgrading to better efficiency heaters and insulation.


These are some of the issues I would like to focus on. I wish to hear your comments, concerns and opinions. Please do not hesitate to write to me (Elect-Lale@Eskicioglu.ca) with your views and questions.