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Top 5 for the weekend THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2018
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Schools not clean enough for kids, say Progressives one thing that people will want to get an update and a review on in cdobie@newwestrecord.ca terms of how we create the conditions for a great school environThe New Westminster Progresment,” he told the Record. sives’ school board candidates say Gifford said the board hasn’t rethey will review the district’s 2016 ceived a formal report from staff decision to move daytime custoyet, but there has been some comdians to afternoon and evening munication between the superinshifts if elected. tendent and school administrators. “We have heard stories from “In fairness to Karim (Hachlaf), parents in the district whose kids it wasn’t a decision he was, first, refuse to go to the washroom durinvolved with and, second, has had ing the day because the toilet faan opportunity to do a lot of recilities are unusable or there is no view on,” he said. toilet paper,” trustee candidate In June 2016, nine daytime cusDanielle Connelly said in a press todians received layoff notices berelease. fore being moved to afternoon or Connelly told the Record her evening shifts. sons noticed a difference in cleanCurrently, the district only has liness at Fraser River Middle one daytime custodian position – School last year, after the change. at New Westminster She’s also heard from Secondary School. parents and teachers (Some) kids “The argument who say eliminating daytime custodirefuse to go to was that, on the recommendation ans has had a major the washroom. of the superintenimpact on schools in dent at the time, Pat New Westminster. Duncan, that that “They (teachers) practice was more have their own stoconsistent with othries as well about what they’ve had er districts and one that is done to deal with on top of an already largely because it’s easier from a busy schedule that they have,” cleaning and hygiene standpoint she said. “It’s cutting into some to do that work when class isn’t in of their own personal time or into session,” Gifford said. classroom time as well.” Connelly thinks a review is apThe review would investigate propriate but admits a new school what effect the change has had on board would have to consider a schools since it was made in Sepnumber of factors before making tember 2016. any decision about the future of New Westminster school board custodians in the school district. chair Mark Gifford said it was al“You have to prioritize when ways the intention of the board to you’re given a budget and make conduct a review. some tough decisions, and we un“When staff made the decision, and it had been an operational de- derstand that, but I strongly believe clean schools are healthy cision, one of the things that I did schools, and healthy schools are ask for was some monitoring on schools where kids can learn betthat decision and to see what the ter and reach their full potential,” impact of those changes was, and I think for a new board, that is just she said.
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Is Team Cote a group of likeminded, independent candidates or an electors’ group tied to the NDP? It depends on who you ask. Incumbent Mayor Jonathan Cote said the six councillor candidates and five school trustee candidates joining him on Team Cote are “like-minded, but independent” candidates who have some shared goals they want to advance at city council and school board. He said they’re running as independents but will campaign together as Team Cote for the Oct. 20 election. Team Cote’s council contingent includes incumbents Patrick Johnstone, Jaimie McEvoy, Chuck Puchmayr and Mary Trentadue, and new candidates Nadine Nakagawa and Chinu Das, while its school board slate includes Anita Ansari, Dee Beattie, Gurveen Dhaliwal and Maya Russell, along with incumbent trustee Mark Gifford. “All of the candidates that are running with the group have been endorsed by New Westminster and District Labour Council. I guess that’s the organizational connection – all the candidates had applied,” he told the Record. “Certainly, the incumbent candidates that I have worked with on city council, I am very happy to continue working with them and continue to have them be on the team. I am looking forward to the new candidates, both on city council and school board, who I think are going to bring some new ideas and fresh perspectives to the group and team.” Continued on page 3
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BUILDING SKILLS: Queen Elizabeth Elementary School student Subeg works on his building skills on his first day of Grade 2. With the new school year underway, the New Westminster school district is hoping the Ministry of Education will announce funding for a 12-classroom addition to Queen Elizabeth. The addition, which would also include a new gym and Neighbourhood Learning Centre space, is the district’s number 1 priority in its five-year capital plan.
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