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Newcomers vie for southeast RVS trustee position

Two candidates are vying to replace incumbent trustee Patty Sproule as representative for schools in Langdon, Indus, and southeast Rocky View County on the Rocky View Schools (RVS) Board of Trustees.

Two candidates are vying to replace current trustee Patty Sproule as the representative for public schools in Langdon, Indus, and southeast Rocky View County on the Rocky View Schools (RVS) Board of Trustees.

Both Shelley Kinley and Brandi-Lee Mouck hope to represent RVS’ Ward 2 after the upcoming Oct. 18 election, following Sproule’s announcement earlier this summer that she would not be running for a second term.

A teacher by trade, Kinley said her prior experience both instructing students and volunteering has equipped her to be a suitable advocate for her community.

“I feel the direction for the trustee needs to come from the community and so it’s very important to me, ‘What are parents needs now, today, this school year? What can we do to help make school the place where all the kids love to go?'” she said.

Kinley said she is running on a platform that focuses on listening to the needs of her community, collaborating with others, and acting to make positive changes.

She added seeing the negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on youth spurred her to run for the Ward 2 trustee position.

“I wanted to run for the board because I recognize the pandemic would be so difficult for kids that it can really set them back and have repercussions for their academic learning, their social learning, and their emotional well-being,” she said. “I felt because of my experience in schools that I would be able to help recognize some of the programming and needs that may need to be put in place to help get kids back on track, if they are not already.”

Kinley holds a bachelor's degree in education and has held positions as a high school, middle school, and online teacher with RVS, the Cypress Hills School Division, and the Golden Hills School Division.

Having been a Rocky View County resident since 1982, Kinley said she has fostered a relevant skillset during time spent volunteering and on the recreation, agricultural, and fundraising boards in her community.

“I’ve worked on a lot of boards, so I know how to get consensus on a board, and I know how to play and work well with others,” she said. “I also feel like I’m a good communicator and I will be able to take the needs of my community and their concerns to the table.”

So far, Kinley said the RVS board has done well in response to challenges faced in the prior term, including capacity concerns and the pandemic. She added the public school division has kept the needs of students at the forefront of their decisions.

“They’re very much about the kids and I like that, and I think they’ve done that well,” she said.  

But an area that RVS could see improvement, according to Kinley, is in their communication with stakeholders and students.  

“Parents need to know what to do when they have an issue and they need to feel confident that they can have their questions answered – they should know what those methods [of contact] are and what avenues are available to them,” she said.

Brandi-Lee Mouck

Langdon resident and parent Brandi-Lee Mouck said if elected, she hopes to advocate for her four children who are currently enrolled in schools within RVS.

“The decisions that the RVS board are making are having a real impact on my kids, so because I’ve been so active in the community, I have a pretty good pulse on how kids [and families] are feeling in the community,” she said.

Mouck added while the COVID-19 pandemic poses an additional challenge to the role of trustees, she believes now is a pivotal time for an election.

“I think this is a pivotal time in most of our lives and so I thought I would get involved more,” she said. “If I could be elected as a trustee, [I could] represent families that are just like my own family.

“We’re all going through this together.”

Since moving to the hamlet of Langdon six years ago, Mouck said she has taken an active role in her community, volunteering and leading youth programs such as Girl Guides, Sparks, and Brownies. She added she’s also taken an active leadership role with the Langdon School Council, as well as the Langdon Community Association’s board of directors, serving as the association’s program coordinator.

“I’m very connected with the community – I am a great communicator,” she said. “I'm calm and rational, so I really enjoy listening to what people’s concerns are and their achievements as well, and really taking it to heart, helping them where I can.”

According to Mouck, the most important thing is that parents’ voices are heard from within the school system.

“A lot of people feel like they’re not being heard, a lot of people think they’re being told what to do and they don’t like it,” she said. “I think somebody just needs to sit back and listen to what people need and what they’re looking for.”

In terms of what’s been done well in the past few years, Mouck said the board has managed to get along and work well together to make difficult decisions on behalf of the division.

“I think they’re actively working toward the best outcome for all students by their unified decisions,” she said, adding communication is key to success as a school board.

She said trustees should be out in their communities engaging with constituents, ensuring visibility and transparency, and taking on tough questions, even when they don’t have all the answers.

“Ultimately, [it comes down to] representing the needs of the constituents, not just within your own ward, but across the entire 26,000 students and their families in RVS,” she said.

Carmen Cundy, AirdrieToday.com  

Follow me on Twitter @carmenrcundy  

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