Advance voting underway for Chilliwack trustee by-election

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The three people running for the vacant seat on the Chilliwack school board have employed different themes.

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Trustee candidate Katie Bartel has stressed the need for diversity, equity and inclusion in her campaign, among other prominent messages to voters.

“Let’s build a stronger, brighter Chilliwack school system where students thrive, teachers are empowered, and parents feel confident in their children’s education and well-being,” Bartel wrote on Facebook. “As a School Trustee, one of my main goals will be to improve communication and unity among Trustees and board staff to ensure we are effectively working together for the benefit of our students.”

Image: Katie Bartel / SD33 trustee candidate Katie Bartel.

Candidate Laurie Throness says he wants to see academic achievement emphasized and prioritized more than it is now in SD33. Throness says his top priorities are centered around academic achievement, fiscal responsibility, enhanced classroom attendance and discipline, and enhancing relationships between parents and the system.

“If you agree that the Chilliwack School Board needs to shift its focus back toward academic excellence, vote for me on March 1,” said Throness, who holds a PhD in history from Cambridge University, a master’s degree in public administration from Queen’s University, and several other degrees. “I spent my entire elementary and secondary education in the public system and almost all of my post-secondary education as well, so my commitment to the public system and to academia in general is unquestioned. I would like to dedicate my energy and experience to improving public education in School District 33.”

Image: Laurie Throness / Trustee candidate Laurie Throness.

Trustee candidate Shane Kooyman says he’s running for school board because he has witnessed what he calls a “lot of political biases” entering the public school system through the local Chilliwack Board of Education.

Image: Shane Kooyman / Trustee candidate Shane Kooyman.

“My goal is to help neutralize the biases in the education system and put students first,” Kooyman told Fraser Valley Today. “What I mean by putting students first is focusing on their academics and not persuading their political view. I hope to provide a fresh prospective on these complex issues as a lifetime resident in order to help make sure that our community is providing the best possible services to our students.”