WE SUPPORT LORNE For more supporters and their statements, click on Endorsements on the bar above.
Maggie Harvey, former Communications Manager (Ottawa-Carleton District School Board): “Lorne is a consensus builder. His compassion for children and their education is second to none. He is a strategic thinker, straight-forward communicator and skillful negotiator. Electing Lorne as Trustee for Zone 9 is the right thing to do. Ottawa's largest public education system needs his depth of experience and insight at the board table."
Pat Holloway, Visiting Professor (University of Ottawa), former English consultant (Ottawa Board of Education) and Head of English (Adult High School): “Having worked with Lorne for more than 25 years, I have always been impressed by his ability to understand and manage the complexity of a school system. Such a job requires a strong vision of what needs to be done and great skill at getting things done. Lorne has both, and therefore I am delighted that he is running for Trustee.”
Diane Koven, CFP, financial advisor: Lorne Rachlis is a serious, dedicated, and experienced educator who cares deeply about students, a perfect combination for school trustee."
Myrna Laurenceson, former school trustee (Ottawa-Carleton District School Board): "As chair of the school board's Special Education Committee, I was impressed by Lorne's concern for special needs students."
Sandy Hill Community BBQ
The weather on Sunday, September 19 was perfect for a community BBQ in the new park behind the Sandy Hill Community Centre. Many people were interested in schools, not so many on the school board. Concern was expressed about regular English programs as enrolment in grades 1 through 6 shrinks in some schools as parents choose Early French Immersion and now Middle FI as the number of sites increases. We must maintain high quality for our children in both streams. Concern also expressed about the future of child care centres offering school-age programs as full day JK and SK, with before and after school care, is phased in across the district. While this needs attention at the provincial level, the school board must take this into consideration, keeping the needs of children as our priority.
WALKING WITH LORNE
I have been walking the streets of zone 9, in the Glebe, in Old Ottawa East, and Sandy Hill, ringing on bells, and meeting people at the door. You get a very different view of the neighbourhoods when you walk than you do when driving through. I have been very impressed with the care people take of their yards and homes, and have had an amicable reception everywhere I went. We are truly blessed to be living in the heart of this wonderful city. I even discovered a few old colleagues that I didn't know lived so close to me!
A key issue identified is overcrowding in a number of schools. This has resulted from some combination of growing enrolment, movement of programs (for example, starting Early French Immersion at Viscount Alexander P.S.), capping the size of classes so that more classes are formed, and doubling space needs for kindergarten as the program expands from half day to full day. This is not an issue that schools can solve in isolation -- schools need to talk to each other, since a solution at one school will almost certainly impact neighbouring schools. I support and will be actively involved in this collaborative approach. The first priority in an school review has to be the needs of the children.
Another issue is concern about specialized classes moving or disappearing. I am a strong supporter of safe, high quality, community schools that can meet the needs of most of the children in their neighbourhood. But there are some students whose needs, abilities or talents are so exceptional that they cannot fully benefit at their local school, and for these students we must continue to provide special classes and schools. This includes gifted classes for identified exceptional students and alternative schools that innovate student-centred practices.
It has been pointed out to me that the school board has focussed considerable capital expenditure outside of the Greenbelt, and this has been necessary to provide schools for the growing student population in the suburbs. But students in the heart of Ottawa are equally deserving of quality accommodation and resources and I will work on your behalf to ensure that renovations and upgrades are done where they are needed.
I have been a strong advocate for environmental improvements through programs in schools such as Earthcare and through school district operational changes resulting in major energy savings. I support initiatives such as placing solar panels on the roofs of schools.
Several people have commented on the importance of music and art in people's lives and the waning of these in the curriculum. This must be reversed. Others have pointed out that the board seems to paying greater attention to French Immersion classes than to English classes. Both must have equal quality of instruction and learning resources. Several people have pointed out that school buildings are empty for substantial periods of time. I support the practice of schools serving as community hubs through partnerships with community groups and social agencies. Another initiative that a willing community might be interested in exploring is a modified school year calendar, in which the school is opened in August and the August holidays placed strategically at other times of the school year, such as an extended Christmas or March break.
A key issue identified is overcrowding in a number of schools. This has resulted from some combination of growing enrolment, movement of programs (for example, starting Early French Immersion at Viscount Alexander P.S.), capping the size of classes so that more classes are formed, and doubling space needs for kindergarten as the program expands from half day to full day. This is not an issue that schools can solve in isolation -- schools need to talk to each other, since a solution at one school will almost certainly impact neighbouring schools. I support and will be actively involved in this collaborative approach. The first priority in an school review has to be the needs of the children.
Another issue is concern about specialized classes moving or disappearing. I am a strong supporter of safe, high quality, community schools that can meet the needs of most of the children in their neighbourhood. But there are some students whose needs, abilities or talents are so exceptional that they cannot fully benefit at their local school, and for these students we must continue to provide special classes and schools. This includes gifted classes for identified exceptional students and alternative schools that innovate student-centred practices.
It has been pointed out to me that the school board has focussed considerable capital expenditure outside of the Greenbelt, and this has been necessary to provide schools for the growing student population in the suburbs. But students in the heart of Ottawa are equally deserving of quality accommodation and resources and I will work on your behalf to ensure that renovations and upgrades are done where they are needed.
I have been a strong advocate for environmental improvements through programs in schools such as Earthcare and through school district operational changes resulting in major energy savings. I support initiatives such as placing solar panels on the roofs of schools.
Several people have commented on the importance of music and art in people's lives and the waning of these in the curriculum. This must be reversed. Others have pointed out that the board seems to paying greater attention to French Immersion classes than to English classes. Both must have equal quality of instruction and learning resources. Several people have pointed out that school buildings are empty for substantial periods of time. I support the practice of schools serving as community hubs through partnerships with community groups and social agencies. Another initiative that a willing community might be interested in exploring is a modified school year calendar, in which the school is opened in August and the August holidays placed strategically at other times of the school year, such as an extended Christmas or March break.
RACHLIS IN CITIZEN EDITORIAL
The lead editorial in the September 10, 2010 Ottawa Citizen says, in part:
" School board elections, which are the poor cousin of municipal elections when it comes to voter participation, are lucky to get half of that number, as former Ottawa-Carleton District School Board director Lorne Rachlis noted in a recent opinion article in the Citizen. Rachlis, who has retired as director of education, is now a candidate for trustee in Ottawa-Carleton District School Board Zone 9. He implored voters to learn who their trustee candidates are and vote in the municipal election. Rachlis is right -- it is important for citizens to inform themselves and participate in municipal elections, especially because their decisions can directly impact on property taxes and even property value. But there is reason to be optimistic that more people may heed his call during this upcoming election. The infusion of new candidates -- including Rachlis, environmentalist David Chernushenko, who is running for city council in Clive Doucet's ward, and many others -- who bring varied expertise and viewpoints to municipal politics breathes new life and new ideas into the system, which should help increase interest and participation."
See "Media Coverage" for the entire editorial.
" School board elections, which are the poor cousin of municipal elections when it comes to voter participation, are lucky to get half of that number, as former Ottawa-Carleton District School Board director Lorne Rachlis noted in a recent opinion article in the Citizen. Rachlis, who has retired as director of education, is now a candidate for trustee in Ottawa-Carleton District School Board Zone 9. He implored voters to learn who their trustee candidates are and vote in the municipal election. Rachlis is right -- it is important for citizens to inform themselves and participate in municipal elections, especially because their decisions can directly impact on property taxes and even property value. But there is reason to be optimistic that more people may heed his call during this upcoming election. The infusion of new candidates -- including Rachlis, environmentalist David Chernushenko, who is running for city council in Clive Doucet's ward, and many others -- who bring varied expertise and viewpoints to municipal politics breathes new life and new ideas into the system, which should help increase interest and participation."
See "Media Coverage" for the entire editorial.
GUEST SPEAKER ON CFRA TALK SHOW
I was the guest on Rabbi Reuven Bulka's phone in show on 580 CFRA Sunday, September 19 starting after the 9 pm news to 11 pm. My emphasis was on the importance of school board elections and the importance of the role of a school trustee. Topics covered included: bullying, cell phones in schools (thanks to Ron for calling that one in), energy conservation (solar panels), what trustees do, knowing your trustee candidates, increased number of candidates, class sizes, budgeting, drug use, overcrowding, special classes, student assessment, and standardized testing.
CLC LABOUR DAY PICNIC A GREAT SUCCESS
A little rain didn't dampen the spirits of the hundreds of people who marched in the Labour Day parade or took part in the lunch and festivities at McNabb Park. It was also a great opportunity to meet people and get their comments and suggestions for Ottawa's public schools.
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