Coquitlam School District 43 (SD43) Trustee candidate Jennifer Blatherwick joins We’ve Got Issues host Nancy Furness. Jennifer is raising five children and has served on the PAC (Parents’ Advisory Council), coached in schools, and volunteered in classrooms. Jennifer is aware of how hard everyone in the system is working. She also volunteered for the Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Corrections Canada, where she learned many people in the system had been earlier injured or failed by the system. She was initially inspired to run when the Province announced a funding model review. Jennifer explains School Trustees are an elected board in charge of the corporate running of every District. They are responsible by law for balanced budgets and graduation rates. She stresses the importance of connection, early intervention and access to physical, mental and developments support programs. The School District is seeing a net loss of students as affordability issues drive families out of the TriCities. However, some schools still rely on portable classrooms. Local school trustees lobby the Provincial government for new schools and seismic upgrades. A new school has been announced for the rapidly growing Burke Mountain area. Jennifer is co-chair of the TriCities Children’s Research Action Team which explores available ways to increase children’s well-being. The pandemic resulted in some loss of connections between children and the wider community. COVID disproportionately affected children with access to fewer resources. The Province sets curriculum, and professional teachers teach it. School Trustees set strategic direction through policy. During and pre-COVID a focus was on equitable access to technology to support learning, including the need for each child to have access to a laptop and internet. Jennifer discusses technology with respect to learning challenges and parent engagement. A focus on social and emotional development in kindergarten has built the capacity for children to genuinely engage with each other. Open communication between parents, schools and children about safe use of technology is essential. Environmental sustainability by School Districts requires expertise at the operational level to ensure maximum energy efficiency, as well as student-led initiatives. ‘Litterless’ lunches are enormously beneficial to both the environment and in cost savings to the School District, as well as giving children an opportunity to contribute to a healthy environment