A candidate for the upcoming St. Albert Public School Board election said she is committed to stopping “erosion” of local authority.
Sheri Wright, a St. Albert resident who works in Edmonton for the Local Authorities Pension Plan, has been in town for five years and loves her home. “I really liked the St. Albert community,” said Wright Wednesday, referring to five years ago when she landed her new job and her family was looking for a new home.
Wright said the small-town feel of St. Albert is something that she loves and wants to keep in the public school system. “I believe all kids need to be treated as a person, not a number,” she said.
Wright said the local public board has been doing a good job and she wants to build on that, but recent developments with the provincial government concern her.
“I think my interest in getting involved in the public school board is we are in a really pivotal time in public education right now,” she said.
Wright said the provincial government getting involved in the recent teachers' union negotiations concerned her. She likened it to the fate of the old elected hospital boards: they were eventually replaced by government-appointed regional bodies. Wright said she, if elected, will commit herself to stopping further erosion of local school boards' authority.
She said community engagement must be part of the public school board, noting 25 per cent of a local tax bill is school requisition.
“I want to make sure the community interest is always at the forefront.”
Wright said her website has much more information. Find it at www.wright4kids.com.
