Who’s running in Regina school board elections this fall?

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A total of 30 candidates have put their names forward to vie for 14 trustee positions in this  year’s school board election, which runs alongside the municipal election on Nov. 13.

Like city council representatives, school board trustees are elected every four-years. Residents can vote for their preferred representatives at the polls on Nov. 13, for either the public or separate school boards.

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A sold-out candidates forum for Regina Public candidates is being hosted by the Regina Public School Teachers’ Association on Oct. 18 at the Artesian. Tickets were free, and organizers say there may be more available at the door if there are any cancellations.

Here’s a summary of who’s running in each division, according to the final list published by Elections Regina following the end of the nomination period on Oct. 9.

Regina Public Schools

In Subdivision 1, Ted Jaleta is seeking re-election for a second term. He was first elected in 2020.

Jaleta says he would continue to advocate for “predictable, consistent funding,” solutions to overcrowding, better governance structure and additional classroom supports like speech pathologists and counsellors.

Challenging him is Kelly Bond, who cites her key priorities as education “fundamentals,” board transparency and “respecting parental involvement in their children’s education and health care decisions.”

Bond has been endorsed by the Regina Civic Awareness Action Network (RCAAN), a group that formed to oppose a 2021 city council motion to ban conversion therapy. The motion passed, but RCAAN has continued to encourage its membership to organize and “drive change in governmental policies, practices & elected officials,” according to its website.

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In Subdivision 2, Tracey McMurchy is running for a second time, seeking her first full-term as trustee. She was first was elected in a 2022 byelection.

A chartered professional accountant, similar to her first campaign, she has focused on advocacy for low-income families and addressing discrimination inside the school system.

She is running against three other candidates for one of the two most-contested trustee seats this year.

Jason Agar, an elementary teacher formerly with Regina Catholic, pledges to use his in-classroom experience to inform his approach to school board-level advocacy on class sizes, funding levels and student needs.

Carla Taylor-Brown feels “parents need greater participation” in education and students to be “free of conflict between home and school.” She says she would prioritize manageable class sizes, student achievement and “education not activism.” Brown has also been endorsed by RCAAN.

Kale MacLellan says she will push for per-student funding to return to national high levels, inclusive schools and investment into Indigenous land-based learning, after-school programs and food initiatives. She has been endorsed by the Regina & District Labour Council (RDLC).

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In Subdivision 3, Adam Hicks is seeking re-election for a third term. He was first elected in 2016.

Hicks says he stands for “safe and inclusive schools where all students and staff excel,” and points to his eight-year record of connecting with staff, students, parents and community on the issues impacting schools.

Also endorsed by RCAAN, Mandeep Sinhmar says she “firmly believe(s) in the importance of parental rights” and in improving academic achievement and “existing shortcomings” in schools.

First elected in 2009, Cindy Anderson is seeking another term for Subdivision 4. She says while current per-student funding “sustains some services,” it does not address past cuts. Anderson says she will advocate for increases to improve existing programs and “crumbling infrastructure.”

Opposing her is Tolu Folarin, who presents her platform as “anchored” in truth and reconciliation, equity and inclusion, accountability, and mental health and well-being.

Tracy Sparrowhawk is also campaigning for subdivision 4, pledging a focus on “directing education to core academic skills,” fiscal management and “ensuring parents’ concerns are heard and addressed.” She has been endorsed by RCAAN.

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Having recently served as board chair, Sarah Cummings Truszkowski is campaigning for another term as trustee for Subdivision 5.

She promises to continue advocating for “inclusive public education” and “safe, equitable, and engaging schools where every student feels they belong and can succeed.” She was first elected in 2020.

Challenging her is Lee Harding, a journalist with the Western Standard and former Saskatchewan director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

Harding says he supports hiring more teachers to address class sizes, improving student achievement, and “parental rights in education regarding pronouns and other matters.” Harding has been endorsed by RCAAN.

Incumbent Tara Molson has decided not to seek re-election, leaving Subdivision 6 up for grabs. Four candidates are looking to fill the vacancy.

Brandon-Shea Mutala says he would champion the message of Saskatchewan teachers to meaningfully address underfunding, classroom size and complexity and increased violence in schools. Mutala has been endorsed by RDLC.

Douglas Armbruster also pledges to push for solutions to the same issues, as well as on lagging literacy and math levels. He has been endorsed by RCAAN, though his website explicitly states he is not affiliated with any entity or groups.

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Laura Luby promises to prioritize inclusive policy, academic excellence, safe schools and “support for parents and teachers.” Luby previously ran for city council in 2020, but was not elected at that time.

With a background in fiscal management, Mohammad Z. Hasan says he would prioritize responsible board management as well as student success.

And finally, Lacey Weekes is seeking re-election for a second term representing Subdivision 7. Weekes pledges to push for environmental education to be added to curriculum, to decrease barriers to early language supports, to increase land-based learning and mental health supports and more per-student funding.

Also running for her seat is Lise Merle, whose platform touts “traditional academic excellence, robust parental involvement and comprehensive student supports.” Merle has been endorsed by RCAAN.

Regina Catholic Schools

Candidates are not separated into subdivisions for Regina Catholic, but there is a slate of 11 candidates angling for just seven available positions on the school board.

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Trustees hoping to return for another term include Darren Wilcox, Rob Bresciani, Ryan Bast, Robert Kowalchuk, Shauna Weninger and Vicky Bonnell.

All candidates asked that voters consider re-electing them to the board so they can continue advocacy work for more funding and protecting Catholic education.

“(This) is vital to our faith and our community,” said Bast in his candidate video, a sentiment echoed by both Kowalchuk and Bonnell.

Wilcox wants to ensure “students, teachers and staff are safe, programs are protected, facilities are maintained and we grow together.”

Bresciani wants to further advocate for “proper funding, class sizes, teacher workload, student safety and maintaining our Catholic identity.”

Weninger, who ended this term as board chair, also pledged to continue pushing for solutions to classroom complexity and for action on truth and reconciliation initiatives.

New to the race is Bernard Wenga Ntcheping, who wants to see education that is “inclusive and open to all the diverse components of our community.”

Greg Fischer taught for 25 years in the division and now seeks to advocate for “better classrooms for our kids and all those who help them learn” in his retirement.

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Jeannine Whitehouse says her work as a teacher, division-level coordinator and a curriculum consultant with the provincial government make her uniquely qualified to advocate for “inclusive and culturally responsive education.”

Kelly Miller pledged to restore per-student funding, address class size and complexity, create a provincial food program and a full-time kindergarten program if elected.

Melanie McKay, also a teacher within the division, says she will serve as a voice for students, teachers and families and has a background in Indigenous education, mental health policy and culturally inclusive practices.

lkurz@postmedia.com

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