Name: Nancy Curley
Age:
Occupation/background:
Married, with three children and a grandchild, Nanaimo has been our home for over 20 years. Our children have come through and graduated from the school system here. I actively participated in the PAC and DPAC during their time in school.
Recently retired, my background is in labour relations, having worked in the telecommunications, health-care and transportation sectors. I have experience on a variety of boards of directors and trustees, including the United Way for Northern and Central Vancouver Island and two different pension plans, giving me a good understanding of rules of order, experience in budgets and financials, as well as experience on governance and compensation committees.
I served in the position of vice-chairwoman to the Business Committee during this past term.
Why are you running for trustee?
I am confident that I can continue to make a difference at the board table, in decisions being made that affect the education of our children.
I am excited about what the board has been able to accomplish during the last 3 years. Developing the district’s strategic plan, moving to operation as a governance board, and developing our 10-year facilities plan are some of the accomplishments of the board over the last three years that I am proud of being part of.
I have the time, commitment and energy necessary to fulfill the role of school trustee for another term.
What three priorities are important to you and how do you plan to tackle these issues, if elected?
I have been vocal during the budget process that the cuts the board is forced to make must be across the entire district not just within the classrooms and the direct support to them. While I have (and continue to be) been very supportive of our strategic plan, I believe that we must find a balance between moving forward with implementation for the future and addressing the needs of today`s students. The students who are in the system now have already had their education compromised with 10 years of cuts to funding – we must find that balance and I will continue to be one of those voices at the board table.
Addressing the issue of poverty within our district is a goal that I brought with me three years ago. The board has identified this problem within our Strategic Plan but the work to deal with it has only just started.
Lastly, the role of the board within the day to day operations of the district is something that I believe must still be refined. The board has moved to a governance model which I support but I`m not confident that we have yet found the right balance of responsibilities to best serve our children.