A longtime public school trustee is taking another shot at the board table, his way of staying with the profession that has been a huge part of his life.
A retired teacher, Dick Lemke has served as a Red Deer Public School District trustee for six years.
“When I’m on the board I discuss everything through the filter of how it would help kids,” said Lemke, 70. “If it helps kids I’m for it, and the more directly the better.”
He called his two terms on the board rewarding, saying he thinks they have a great staff and great senior administrative team.
He said the board needs sustainable and predictable funding and the provincial government hasn’t come through on that.
“Our role as trustees is to make for a better education experience for kids,” said Lemke. “We have to be continually cognizant of that to make the school experience a quality and ever-improving one.”
Lemke is proud that the board tries to make the schools double as community centres and promotes public use of the space. He pointed to the planned public library in the new Ecole Barrie Wilson Elementary School. He also cited the skateboard park on the edge of Glendale Middle School.
His kids went through the public school system.
He believes students should have a say at the board table by bringing a student trustee on board.
“They often see things under a different filter than adults do,” said Lemke. “They see things as it applies to them, just ask a kid what their solution is and often it is a good one.”
“I enjoyed teaching, I think I was very good at it, and this is my way of staying in touch with kids in the system.”
Trustee candidates will be on the Oct. 21 municipal ballot along with city council and mayoral candidates.
Other Red Deer Public School board candidates are Bill Christie, Shari Hanson, Kerri Kenworthy, Lianne Kruger, Dianne Macaulay, Bev Manning, Ben Ordman, Cathy Peacocke, Kurt Spady, Bill Stuebing, Jim Watters, Milt Williams and Raymond Yaworski.
mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com