Local parent and George MacDougall School Council member Yazdi Bulsara is running for Rocky View Schools (RVS) board of trustees on Oct. 21, in Airdrie.
ìThis is the first time in my school council involvement that Iíve seen this much involvement from trustees. I saw what trustees do and decided to go for it,î Bulsara said.
The India native moved to Airdrie from Calgary in 2010 and spent several years in Ottawa before that, where he was on school council boards at both the elementary and junior high school levels.
He said while in Ottawa he helped the school councils come up with some good fundraising initiatives and lead by example to get the local immigrant community involved in their childís education.
ìI went to the local community and said, ëthe school system is different here,í and showed them how they could get involved,î he said
He added it is about inclusion not alienation.
He has been involved in the George McDougall council for two years now and said he sees a need for a formal program to encourage students who havenít decided their future career aspirations.
ìToday, there are more options to make students aware of and more consequences of not keeping grades up,î he said.
He added he sees this need in his own children who are currently in Grade 10 and 12.
Bulsara said they have career day in most schools and he would like to see something like that expanded to undecided kids to give them the opportunity to try different things that may interest them.
ìWhen they decide what they want to do, I donít want them to think, ëoops I donít have the grades for that,íî he said.
He said he would also like to see more focus on the basics like elementary level math and reading and writing skills so students are better prepared for the junior and senior high school years.
Bulsara added he would also like to work on getting more parents involved in their childís education and be equally responsible for how their child is progressing.
ìBeing an active parent I am more aware of problems,î he said
He added being a parent with kids still in the RVS system and a member of school council gives him an edge on other candidates.
Other Ward Three candidates announced Sept. 24, include incumbent Sylvia Eggerer, Todd Brand, Grant Gilbertson, Diane Hunter, Sherry Lester, Phyllis McCallum-Hunter and Anthony Powell.
