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Imagine my surprise this morning, when the ticker on the bottom of the screen on BT (Channel 13) said the schools were closed today! LOL! It did give me the opportunity to enjoy the sunshine and go sledding with my son.
As for the petition to blend the Langley School Districts together, I have signed it. Seems like common sense to me. That may be it's ultimate failing, though. LOL!
The business of the local school board should be important to all taxpayers, and the last time I checked Jordan was a resident.
He should be commended for being interested and trying to be informed. He has child(ren) and what the school board does now will affect them when they get there.
If the school board is going to get angry, it is probably more angry at the fact that it hasn't been able to fly under radar with all the things that it is trying to do behind closed doors. They are so arrogant that I don't think they care what one "rookie" councillor does.
The board is so dyfunctional that the chair gets away with silencing a trustee at a board meeting without being challenged by any single trustee. You won't see free debate at a board meeting. All you will get is whining about how hard it is to make decisions and complaints about parents showing up at their meetings en masse.
Well, I have news for you. That's what you got elelcted to do. Can't stand the heat? - you know how the saying goes. People are supposed to let them know what they think and how they feel. It's called input - something the trustees say they want but don't appear to really hear.
As for the petition, it would be hard to ignore if there were many signatures. Each one counts - hopefully common sense will prevail.
I guess I should go and sign it now.
Point one I agree.
Point Two I disagree.
Point Three I agree.
Could you please explain.
Point one and three I get.
What is point two?
Wishful, I believe that if you check with Sam Kirk, Councillor Bateman's election campaign manager, he will agree that Bateman ran for Township Council not School Board and looking through his campaign literature I see no reference to any School board issues at all. Maybe you should ask the School Board Trustees if they agree with your supportive comments. F.Y.I., through the grapevine I am aware that at least one Trustee is miffed! 
Jordan's position as a councillor does not preclude or prevent him from learning about local issues. In fact I would argue that councillors should be aware of school board issues to be better councillors. As I said, the last time I checked he was still a resident with a duty to be a good citizen, at least that is what I was taught in school. Critical thinking is a good thing, something school trustees should practice more often.
If a trustee is miffed, it should be at his or herself. They had a chance to put amalgamation and/or reduction on the table for discussion. I heard that they were given a heads up before this hit the local papers. Not a single trustee chose to do so. Had they chosen to have open debate on the topic and consider it as an option, they wouldn't now be so frustrated and apoplectic.
Maybe trustees will get angry enough to spring into action and actually start listening to the public instead of being disrespectful to those who actually believe in the process enough to participate and naively expect something to come of it.
Once again NO to part one and YES to part two! So according to you MP Mark Warawa, MLA Rich Coleman and MLA Mary Polak should get as publicly involved with all School Board issues just as Councillor Jordan Bateman. I'll go one step further maybe they should wade in on Township Council Issues as well! Hey not a bad idea! I suggest they look at Bateman's Township record of voting on the $3-4-5-6 million dollar (and growing) Grandstand fiasco! Not to mention that I now hope that the elected School Board Trustees who are Township taxpayers will now comment on Councillor Bateman and his Township politics! All these elected politicians should 'learn about local issues' as publicly as Councillor Bateman!
I'm in total agreement that the Township Councillor's should not be putting their noses into the school board issues.
These are elected officials by us, the residents, and for someone in another office to step in, it can only lead to hard feelings. I think the issues can be addressed without the councillor's interference.
Are you suggesting that his rights as a citizen be abrogated?
He also discusses provincial and federal politics.
Just because most politicians are either afraid to speak or adhere to a model-T prototype does not mean that someone who breaks the mold and isn't scared of putting it out there is wrong to do so. Some customs would do well to be changed. I find Jordan's outlook towards a new style of politics refreshing.
I was not commenting on Jordan's work as a councillor only on LFP Editor's comments regarding Jordan's right to comment or as you put it, "sticking his nose in it". Having said that, I'm sure he can fend for himself if he so chooses. I don't have enough info to comment on his councillorship.
Nice that you agree with him on the petition though. 
You should really look in your backyard first, Bob.
South Carvolth School Closure
http://www.langleyadvance.com/is.../
032206nn8.html
Coun. Kim Richter was the only local politician outside of the school board who attended the meeting.
"I think this is an absolutely amazing school," she said, and added that she would have enrolled her own children there if the environmental program had been in operation when they were elementary-age.
When can we expect your chastisement of Kim Richter for the same thing you accuse Jordan of doing?
Look J.B., I don't know about Bob(maybe you should ask him yourself) but as I recall it was a public meeting of the School Board and input from all members of the public was invited. This Editor thinks that there's a bit of difference between giving input at an open public meeting and wading into firing two School Board trustees on your own website! Or did I miss the public meeting call to decide to fire them? Maybe the LP website could clarify this. P.S. thanks for contributing to our high hit rate. Right neighbourly of you!
The more I read Susan's letter to editor, the more sense it makes especially in the amalgamation and saving so much money which could be better spent on the students. That would cover an awful lot of field trips, sports events, etc. etc. that the school board says they can't afford after parliament slapped them for making kids bring money for all the extras.
If amalgamation works for the school board why couldn't it work for the mayor and council(city and township) I sure wouldn't mind having my tax dollars spent more wisely and further more, I haven't heard one person in Abbotsford complaining since they amalgamated.
Can't argue with you. This Editor agrees with you about School Trustees and especially AMALGAMATING both Langley Councils. But since the cash cow casino was opened it will never EVER voluntarily happen in our lifetime.
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