Three candidates running to be public board trustee in Amherstburg/LaSalle

A trio of candidates have filed to the next trustee for Amherstburg and LaSalle with the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB).

Mary Jane Fields, Jeremy Palko and Adam Peterson are the three candidates vying for the position. Current trustee Chandrika Abhang has opted not to run in the Oct. 26 municipal election.

Fields said she has put her name forward for public board trustee due to concerns over the welfare of both staff and students.

“I have decided to run because of issues involving the mental and physical health and safety of students and staff,” said Fields.

That is the most important thing to her as part of her election platform.

“These issues are important to me. If students and staff do not feel safe in their environment, they will not succeed,” Fields stated.

Fields has not ran for election before and the needs of students and staff is why she put her name out there in this year’s election.

“This is my first year and I stepped forward after become aware of the special needs of some students and issues the staff and other students have to deal with,” she said.

Fields added her background in the medical profession could lead to different outlooks at the board table.

“My background is nursing (Bachelor of Science) both as staff and management. I will bring a different perspective to the table,” said Fields. “I want to advocate for realistic provincial funding for the well-being of students and staff with the focus on smaller classroom sizes, reducing classroom violence and bullying.”

Palko said he is running for trustee to represent parents, students, and taxpayers “in ways that we desperately need and have not seen in recent years.” He indicated he wants to be more open with parents.

“We need to ensure the effective pursuit of student achievement and well-being, upholding and building public confidence, proper stewardship of board resources, and improving academic performance,” he said.

Palko wants to help students focus in the classroom by “stopping the sexualization of children, not compelling/forcing speech and expression, and resourcing teachers so that they are properly equipped to provide an enriching learning experience for their students.”

“By fostering the right priorities and culture in our schools, we will be able to significantly improve the quality of education in Windsor-Essex.”

Palko wants to “let kids be kids” as “the politicization of schools undermines the ability of students to learn.”

“When children are distracted, they cannot perform in school and enjoy their education experience, which causes parents to consider alternative options. As enrollment decreases, so does provincial funding,” he said.

Palko said families who benefited from RISE (Reaching Individual Success and Excellence) were severely affected by program cuts due to a $6.4 million deficit that triggered a multi-year financial recovery plan.

“To recover enrollment, the GECDSB trustees and administration must recover the trust of the public, particularly that of the parents and students,” he said.

Palko said for the past five years he has become increasingly engaged in advocating for the rights of parents to have their voices heard on how they want their children educated.

Improved communication is needed between the board, public and within the board itself, he believes.

“As public servants who represent constituents, trustees must understand that they are accountable to parents, students, and taxpayers. It is my desire and intent to listen to all public feedback, share it with the board, and work toward the best resolutions possible.”

A father of two, he said “Windsor-Essex is my home.” He has had various roles, such as coach, advocate, volunteer, teacher, and labourer, “which has yielded a skill set to serve well as a trustee.”

“My degrees are in Mechanical Engineering and Master of Engineering, which were the foundation for my 25-year career in automotive and marine design and development, primarily focused on powertrain,” Palko said.

Palko added he is “data driven and analytical while continually considering the bigger picture to ensure the best overall solution.”

Peterson said he is running for GECDSB trustee “because I firmly believe that every student in our community deserves an excellent education, and every parent deserves a school board that leads with accountability, fiscal integrity, and honesty.”

“Classrooms should be places where our children can explore their potential in safe, supportive environments,” he said. “With two children currently enrolled in our public schools, I have a direct, personal stake in ensuring our board provides steady, pragmatic leadership and our communities deserve a representative who listens, collaborates, and delivers.”

Peterson said his platform is based around pillars such as student success, both academic and well-being, collaboration not division, and transparency and responsibility

The student success pillar “is aimed at prioritizing foundational academics, specifically literacy and math. The schools need to be a safe and positive environment where students can learn without distraction and have access to the tools and support systems they need to succeed.”

The second pillar would promote stability, open dialogue, and genuine partnership “to find common ground on a consistent direction for the board. I am committed to building strong relationships across Amherstburg and LaSalle to ensure parent and community perspectives drive our decisions.”

Peterson added “a clear directive of a trustee is to ensure that we review and provide oversight to the annual budget so public dollars are allocated efficiently, prioritizing frontline teachers, educational assistants, and classroom learning tools over administrative overhead.”

Peterson said he always been involved and surrounded by education in one form or another.

“My mother was a teacher, I am married to an educator, and I have taught at the post-secondary level while also raising two children in public schools, so I see the reality facing students and educators every day,” he said. “Seeing recent challenges and polarization facing school boards convinced me that now is the right time to bring steady, collaborative, and accountable leadership to the table.”

According to Peterson, “being an effective trustee requires a balanced understanding of classroom education, governance, and organizational oversight. I bring over 20 years of professional experience across multi-national companies, managing budgets, delivering complex projects, and building collaborative relationships.”

By Ron Giofu