A veteran of the Greater St. Albert Catholic School Division said her campaign in this election is about her experience, her affinity for the work and her love of kids.
Rosaleen McEvoy said she has been a Catholic trustee for three straight terms, nine years, and is not tired of it at all. “Absolutely not,” said McEvoy Monday. “We have trustees on our board who’ve served 20 years.
“It’s not a matter of getting tired of it. I get more excited about it.”
McEvoy said the work of a trustee is very interesting, especially the part where the division works together with the provincial government. She also loves to work with policy and on governance issues.
“Here’s what I think,” she said. “Good policy leads to good governance and good governance in my opinion allows for good fiscal oversight.” She said good fiscal oversight ensures the division’s goals are achieved.
“Good governance leads to safe and caring schools,” she added.
While governance and policy allow for great schools, there’s still one thing that is more fun for this incumbent trustee. “My favourite part of being a trustee is going out into the schools, because I used to be a teacher,” she said.
Looking at the campaign, McEvoy said the division just came off years of the “Inspiring Education” initiative. Now the division is at the transformative stage, based on the input gathered during “Inspiring Education.”
She said it’s challenging because of funding. “What we still need ... is stable funding. Reliable, sustainable funding.
“You cannot transform education when your funding keeps getting cut.” McEvoy said on one hand trustees are always excited about new students and new initiatives, and on the other worried about funding.
She said GSACSD has consistently been one of the top-performing divisions in Alberta. She’d like to see it stay that way.
“I say voters choose me for the same reasons people send their children to Catholic schools,” said McEvoy.
“I will work to ensure that Catholic education retains its vital role in providing choice for all Albertans who wish to send their children to Catholic schools.”
