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PRIORITIES
MY PRIORITIES
School districts in British Columbia share responsibility for public education with the Province. The Ministry of Education and Child Care sets the curriculum, provincial standards, and reporting requirements, while locally elected boards provide governance and oversight.
As trustees, we set the district's strategic direction, approve the budget, monitor student achievement, hire and evaluate the Superintendent, and advocate for the resources our schools need.
This partnership brings together provincial standards and local leadership, allowing school boards to make decisions that reflect the needs of their students, families, staff, and communities while keeping students at the centre.
Trustees have a unique opportunity to bring the voices and priorities of our communities to provincial conversations while making decisions locally. With this in mind, Amanda will focus on four areas:
Students at the Centre
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Student Voice
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Safe and Inclusive Schools
Supporting student achievement, well-being, inclusion, and meaningful opportunities for students to have a voice in decisions that affect them.
Sustainable Schools for the Future
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Student Transportation
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Climate Leadership
Planning for safe, accessible, and sustainable schools, while addressing transportation, infrastructure, and the long-term needs of our growing communities.
Strong Public Education
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Child Care
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Public Education
Advocating for sustainable provincial funding that reflects the true cost of quality public education, including meaningful inclusion supports and access to child care.
Partnership and Reconciliation
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Truth and Reconciliaiton
Strengthening relationships with Indigenous Nations and community partners and continuing the work of Truth and Reconciliation through education, action, and accountability.
STUDENT VOICE
Students are at the heart of everything we do, and they are one of our most important sources of insight into how well our system is working. Our district has a long-standing commitment to student voice, and I am proud to have helped strengthen meaningful student participation in Board governance.
During my time as a trustee, I have consistently advocated for students to have a meaningful voice at the Board table. This work has helped inspire two other school districts in the province to create formal opportunities for students to participate at their Board tables. I will continue to champion authentic student voice and ensure it remains central to how our Board listens, learns, and leads.
STUDENT TRANSPORTATION
From safe walking and active travel routes to better roads and public transit, we have important issues to address. Safe transportation is especially important for our most vulnerable road users. Areas where we can work together include:
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Zero-emission school buses
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Improving highway conditions
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Expanding active travel routes
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Improving public transportation connections to our schools and communities
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Expanding fare-free public transportation for youth
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Prioritizing school access to ferry transportation
CLIMATE LEADERSHIP
Climate change is already affecting our communities, and school districts have a responsibility to consider long-term sustainability in the decisions we make today.
I support climate leadership through responsible governance — ensuring environmental impacts are considered in district planning, facilities, transportation, and capital projects. This includes making thoughtful, fiscally responsible choices that reduce long-term costs while supporting sustainability.
Climate leadership in a school district is also about resilience: building and maintaining schools that are safe, energy efficient, and able to meet the needs of a changing climate, particularly in coastal communities like ours.
It means balancing today’s pressures with long-term thinking, and making decisions that reflect both environmental responsibility and sound public stewardship.
Key priorities include:
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Continuing investment in solar energy
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Expanding the electric transportation fleet
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Upgrading facilities for improved energy and water efficiency
SAFE AND INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS
Our classrooms are becoming more complex, and that’s something we are seeing across British Columbia. Students are arriving at school with a wider range of academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs, while expectations for inclusive education continue to grow.
And schools need the resources to match.
As a school trustee, one of my most important responsibilities is advocating to the Province for the funding and supports our district needs. That gap between expectations and available resources is growing, and it must be addressed.
I will continue to advocate for:
• Increased provincial funding to support classroom complexity
• Stable, long-term investment in inclusive education programs and services
• Stronger collaboration between government, school districts, Indigenous rightsholders, and education partners
Our teachers and staff are doing incredible work, but they cannot do it alone. Meaningful inclusion requires meaningful investment.
Every student deserves the support they need to succeed and as trustee, I will be a strong, consistent voice for our district at the provincial level to help make that happen.
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
I believe schools play an important role in helping students understand the true history of Canada and the ongoing impacts of colonization in a way that is respectful, age-appropriate, and grounded in learning.
This work requires strong relationships with Indigenous communities, including shíshálh Nation and Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw, and continued support for place-based learning and meaningful engagement in our local context.
It also means ensuring students and staff are supported to engage in sometimes complex conversations with care, respect, and a focus on understanding rather than division.
School districts have a responsibility to reflect these commitments in how we teach, lead, and learn.
At its heart, this work is about building understanding, respect, and stronger communities through education
CHILD CARE
Access to quality child care is essential for families, children, and our community. Our school district has been a provincial leader in developing and implementing innovative programs such as Seamless Day and Just B4, making it easier for families to access high-quality care before, during, and after the school day.
As a trustee, I have supported the creation of new child care spaces on school district property and worked to ensure our schools remain community hubs that serve families beyond the classroom.
I have also been a strong advocate for publicly funded child care. That means supporting grant applications, pursuing capital funding for new child care spaces, and advocating to the provincial government for sustainable operating funding.
Through our Board and the BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA), I have consistently advocated for per-pupil child care funding so school districts can operate high-quality, publicly funded child care programs. School districts have the experience, facilities, and commitment to provide integrated child care that supports children's learning and gives families greater access to affordable, reliable care.
I will continue to champion investments in public education that support children from their earliest years and help families thrive.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
Students do best when their voices and the voices of their families and communities help shape the decisions that affect their education. That is why locally elected school boards matter. They ensure that the priorities and values of our community are reflected in our schools while providing strong local accountability.
Public education is the cornerstone of a strong democracy. As a trustee, I have advocated for funding that reflects the true cost of delivering high-quality public education and for policies that support the success and well-being of every student.
I will continue to be a strong advocate for the resources our students and schools need and an unwavering defender of public education and local school board governance. Strong schools, strong communities, and strong local leadership are essential to ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.