Harvard Media News reached out to each candidate running for office to ask a set of questions on the office for which they are running. The following is our Q&A with Fort McMurray Catholic School Trustee Candidate, Marta Soupal. All responses are from the candidate or their agent and are unedited by Harvard Media News.
Harvard: What do you see as the key issues facing students and teachers today?
- Classroom sizes are an issue. Due to rapid population growth the classroom sizes have increased and solutions need to be considered so that the quality of education is maintained, and not diminished.
- Hire more Catholic teachers and educational assistants (EAs). This is an issue that affects both the teachers and the students.
- From the perspective of a Catholic trustee, students in a Catholic school should receive an authentic Catholic education. I believe that the foundation of a good life is built on Christian values, and it becomes an issue when the education of these values begins to falter. Part of the solution for this is to improve Catholic formation of educators.
- It is an issue when parents are not adequately engaged in decision making activities and are excluded from important conversations regarding children’s education. Part of the solution is to strengthen the relationship between Families, School and Parish (Triad).
- Ongoing bullying issues and advocating for additional mental health support.
Harvard: How familiar are you with the Alberta Education Act and the limitations placed on trustees?
My familiarity is strong on both of these topics.
Over the past few years, I have become well versed in the Alberta Education Act and the Code of Canon Law, as Catholic schools operate under these two frameworks in parallel.
Furthermore, I am familiar with the document outlining the limitations placed on trustees, and I fully understand and support them. Some of the key ones include restrictions on individual authority, avoiding conflicts of interest, maintaining confidentiality, and upholding board decisions.
Harvard: What support will you offer the Superintendent in implementing the board’s strategic direction?
The Superintendent is the only employee of the School Board. A healthy, strong partnership is in everyone’s best interest to ensure the district’s operations run smoothly, achieve desired outcomes for all students, and serve the best interests of the division.
Harvard: Do you have children in the system, and how have their experiences influenced your perspective?
My husband and I are raising two children who attend Fort McMurray Catholic Schools, and we can confidently state that despite their attendance, we have been their primary educators throughout their lives, as parents should be.
We have witnessed some changes our district has gone through and there have been conflicts in the information they have received or been exposed to at the schools, especially in the last 4 years.
To bring positive change and growth to FMCSD, the board needs renewal with new trustees who are committed to keeping policies and decisions true to the mission of an authentic Catholic education. In this effort, the board must be united.
It is evident that some of the board members have had positions for multiple terms, and while they might indicate that their familiarity with process is a good enough reason to be elected again, I feel that it is not. I am of the opinion members can become overly comfortable with their position and feel somewhat entitled to it over time.
I believe the contribution I’m ready to make will help revitalize a board that has become stagnant and complacent. I am driven to bring about a fresh new impact and positive change that is not because of personal gain or political reasons, but more so because I feel it is the right thing to do.
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