October 18, 2004 is Election Day in Red Deer.  Return to Election Forum - Candidates for Public School Board

Dr Bill Stuebing

Candidate for Public School Trustee

Statement:

Public schools represent the future of our children and the future of our community.

In seeking re-election as Public School Trustee. I believe that I can offer experience, ability, dedication, and a strong commitment to public education in Red Deer.

Red Deer has strong public schools. Our commitment to "striving for excellence" is envied across the Province and was recognized when we were selected as the first recipient of the Premier’s Award for School Board Excellence.

In the nine years that I have served on the Board, we have initiated many positive programs within our schools: improvements to curriculum with an increased focus on practical application and an emphasis upon career planning; expanded and more appropriate alternative and special education programs; smaller class sizes, particularly in the critical elementary years; a ceiling on school fees and a fee waiver program for families in less fortunate circumstances; safe and caring schools initiatives with an increasingly successful anti-bullying program; and needed improvements to our school buildings and facilities, including the opening of a new elementary school, and at long last, the reconstruction and modernization of Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School. At the same time, our student achievement levels, parent approval ratings, and especially our diploma exam results, continue to be among the best in the Province.

Yet, whatever our successes, we must continue to recognize that the motto of Red Deer Public Schools, "striving for excellence" will always be a direction, and never an accomplishment. The continuing challenge will be to insure that we remain an improving district, to provide the best quality educational programs to meet the unique characteristics and needs of each and every one of our more than 9,600 students. We want the best possible schools with the best programs, the best curriculum, and the best instruction, and can settle for nothing less.

In this effort, there are significant issues immediately before us. As we move to implement the recommendations of the Learning Commission, class sizes and inclusiveness remain concerns, together with the adequate provision of counselling, remedial and curriculum supports to classroom teachers.

While continuing to develop our special needs and alternative programs, we must be able to give more individual attention to all of our students, to insure that every child succeeds, and that none are left behind. In this regard, early literacy is absolutely critical.

There is a need to continue modernizing our schools, and respond to the growing role and needs for technology. And we must work to insure adequate and sustained funding to allow us to deal effectively and locally with these concerns. At the same time we must insure that the dollars we do have, more that $70 million a year, continue to provide the maximum benefit to our children and our community.

These issues and concerns are known to us. However, if recent experience is any guide, many of the challenges we will face over the next three years are unknown today. For this reason, I will continue to base my candidacy on the same core values which have guided me as a Trustee for the past nine years.

In seeking re-election, I offer my belief in these values: to preserve and build on the quality and strengths of our schools; to advocate local leadership, control and accountability; to promote a vigorous, effective partnership of parents, teachers, students, the community and the school board; to serve the common needs of all of our children while respecting and responding to their individual differences; and to ensure the best education and empowerment for our next generation of citizens.

Our children’s future, and our future as a community depends on strong, purposeful public education!

Together with my wife Linda, I have lived in our community for over 30 years where I have worked as a sociology instructor at the Red Deer College. Three of our four children have graduated from Red Deer Public Schools, while our youngest is in grade 11 at Hunting Hills High School. We have been very active in their education as a member various parent advisory committees and school councils since our eldest began Kindergarten almost 25 years ago.

For the past nine years I have served as a Trustee, including six years as Vice-Chair of the Board. I also presently serve as the Vice-President of the Public School Boards Association of Alberta.

Public schools represent the future of our children and the future of our community. In seeking re-election, I hope to be able to continue to contribute to our schools, to our children, and to our community.

I would sincerely appreciate your support in the upcoming election.

Red Deer Public Library manages Election Forum.  We will provide a page for each candidate, but all the information is provided by the candidates themselves.  Red Deer Public Library cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information, nor does it endorse any candidate.

Election Forum | Information for Candidates | City Election section