MARK-ALAN WHITTLE
Embrace change … make it work                                         CONTACT MARK
OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFE TIME, SAYS PARENT

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The Flamborough Post - Dec. 27, 2002
(The following is an open letter to Education Minister Elizabeth Witmer. Mr. Whittle's views are his own, and are not expressed on behalf of the Assembly of School Councils.)
Dear Elizabeth:
As a caring parent of a less able boy, dedicated to seeing he gets a proper education, I thank you for caring enough about the state of education in Hamilton to appoint Dr. Jim Murray to supervise the operation of our public school board.
I have come to know Jim Murray first hand from being able to make a number of presentations to him of my concerns about the delivery of educational services to special needs children like my lovely son Logan.
Over a thousand special needs children rely on the school board to help them learn and prosper along side their peers in class. I fight hard for their concerns and want to see improvements made to the education services they receive through Intensive Support Amount funding directed to the classroom.
I have faith in Dr. Murray's leadership of the school board and have a thrilling sense that our education system will flourish if we can work together with him as parents and Assembly of School Council members to embrace positive change and renewal that will ensure our students are better served now and into the future. I thank you for a chance to be part of the vast renewal of the education system in Hamilton.
As you are aware, the Assembly of School Councils, of which I'm an elected executive member, has been approached by Dr. Murray for our endorsement with respect to a vision for renewal and positive change.
As a democratically-elected group we have a responsibility to work hard for the children we represent by making decisions that are positive and in the students' best interests. We have no axes to grind with you or Dr. Murray, nor any militant labour unions to appease, as we assess the sad state of education here in Hamilton and consult our members to foster a plan for positive change for the kids. In our hearts we want things improved.
Unlike the suspended trustees, and the dysfunctional governance that they represent, the Assembly of School Councils and their executive members, are baggage free and ready to serve the students we were democratically elected by the parents to represent.
Unlike trustees, we are in tune with our individual school councils and many of us are in school almost every day -- rolling up our sleeves with the principals and staff -- making it work for the kids.
Unlike the lame duck trustees, who are tied to the municipal election cycle even though their taxing authority has been removed long ago, the Assembly holds elections when the school year begins so that parents can get directly involved and have a say in the affairs of education at their schools.
We cannot run for office unless we have children in school and we accept no gratuity for our work; we are a valuable partner to the betterment of education as volunteers.
Being part of a vision for renewal and positive change is an opportunity I don't want to miss. I owe it to my son and other kids to show leadership and resolve to help them be the best they can and be educated by a system that provides a safe and resource rich environment.
Let's all set our differences aside and work with Dr. Murray to embrace change and make it work for the kids in our schools.

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