Sheelah Donahue—experienced, committed and ready to get to work for our students.
Past All Candidate Meetings and civics vox pop
DPAC
DPAC Opening Speech (two minutes)
I'm Sheelah Donahue, Vice Chair of the board. For the past eight years I’ve had the honour of being a trustee. I’m Human Resources Vice Chair, Audit Committee Chair, and the local Provincial Council rep. I’ve served as DPAC Chair, Rockridge PAC co-chair, and on many other committees and boards, but in this part of the evening I’d like to tell you about the work I do now on your behalf, and why my experience qualifies me to continue as one of your trustees.
In addition to HR and Financial Audit, I’m the trustee member of the Indigenous Education Council, Sempulyan is my counterpart in the Squamish Nation. We are dedicated to formalizing our relationships with Indigenous partners and bringing this work to life in a way that enriches our students and honours the history of this land.
I’m co-chair of joint traffic and safety, along with a municipal councillor, your DPAC rep, bylaw, police, and engineering and facilities staff. Speed bumps, safety blitzes, and flashing crosswalks are some of the tangible results of this work. There’s much more to do, particularly around improving public transit, and safe biking and walking, and I hope to continue this work for you.
Last year I was elected to our BC Trustees Association metro branch executive. I collaborate with colleagues from Metro Vancouver to advocate for issues common to our region. The mentorship I’ve received has been invaluable both as a new trustee, and today.
This year my metro peers elected me to the provincial learning committee. PLC helps set the course for trustee orientation and professional development throughout BC.
I’m part of the Metro English Language Learners Consortium. This group is made up of teachers, staff, SWIS workers, trustees and administrators. We work toward common goals and advocate with Provincial and Federal government to ease the transition for students and families new to Canada.
I do this work so I can make informed decisions based on up-to-date information on issues that impact school communities here in our district. The education landscape changes quickly, and for many reasons, and it is essential that you elect trustees who commit to being engaged and enthusiastic throughout the term and you have my word that I will continue to be a tireless advocate for you and your children, and I ask for your vote in this election.
Thank you.
DPAC Closing Speech (two minutes)
Earlier this evening I told you about my work as a trustee here in our district, regionally, and provincially. That was the how. Now I’d like to tell you about the why.
I do this work because I love our community and I believe in public education. A thriving public system benefits everyone, not just those who have children in schools. I want to help keep public education great here in our district, for our families and for our staff and students. I want to protect what's good about our school system, be part of solutions where there are challenges, and work for positive change that honours newcomers, the people who came before us, and the history of this land.
I want to protect our programs of excellence. Our academic offerings are second to none. AP, IB, French Immersion, we offer something for everyone including our many clubs and academies—like robotics and fencing, and music programs that enrich the lives of so many, and by the way, we have some of the finest student musicians in the country.
The learning outcomes and lives of our students are diverse, and we must ensure that everyone, including those without designations, receives the support they need. These are the things that are important to our parents and these are the things we need to protect.
We can only achieve these goals with good governance, and that is the central role of a trustee. We are challenged, however, by daunting fiscal constraints, COVID recovery, and rapid social change. Nonetheless, we must deliver the finest educational outcomes for our students, prepare them for a smooth transition into their future, and manage childcare—an emerging part of the education landscape.
This work is not tied to municipal election cycles and I have the experience needed to provide continuity as an effective advocate for complex issues involving all three levels of government, while keeping the needs of our school communities front and centre.
When I stood here 2014 and 2018, I promised to work diligently for you and your children, and once again, I ask for your vote on October 15, or in the advance polls, so I can do the same in the upcoming term.
Thank you.
BOWEN ISLAND
Bowen Opening Speech (one minute)
I’m Sheelah Donahue, vice-chair of the board and chair of our Audit committee. I’ve served as DPAC Chair, on many school committees, and as a director and coach of youth sports including minor hockey and little league, both of which represent Bowen. I recognize the unique relationship between BICS and the community, and the demographic and transportation challenges not seen elsewhere.
When I stood before you four years ago, and asked for your vote, I promised to work hard on your behalf and I’ve kept that promise. Today, I am a representative at the English Language Learners consortium and I’m the trustee council member working on the protocol agreement with the Squamish nation. In 2021 I became a member of our regional branch executive and this year was elected to the provincial professional learning committee.
Respect, kindness, and honouring different learning styles are important to me. So are fiscal responsibility, academic excellence, innovative programs, and staff wellbeing. I want to make public education great for our children, our staff, and our community, and I ask you to vote for me on October 15th.
Thank you.
Bowen Closing Speech (one minute)
There’s a lot of work ahead, especially coming out of COVID. We’re facing fiscal challenges of a magnitude not seen before. And, although learning loss and declines in physical fitness were mitigated by keeping our schools open as much as possible, the pandemic took a toll on the mental health of our students, staff, and families.
Now, more than ever we need responsible governance and strong student supports. Because of my work in BCSTA, our provincial body, I understand this landscape and the need for strategic funding advocacy so we can continue to offer enriched educational experiences, not just in classrooms but in gardens, forests, arts, clubs, and academies.
As I did in 2014 and 2018, I promise to serve you, and the children of Bowen Island, with integrity, dedication, and enthusiasm. I’ll continue to uphold traditions of excellence that both attract the best and brightest staff, and prepare students to face their future with confidence.
There’s a lot to be proud of here on Bowen, and in our district, and I ask you to cast a vote for me so I can continue to work on your behalf.
Thank you.
Civics Vox Pop
This section is a transcript of a Vox Pop filmed for a high school Civics class.
Civics Class Vox Pop
“The School Act is a fun read for Civics nerds like me”
Hello students. Clearly, I don’t have acting or video skills but I do know about governance, and that is the key role of trustees and school boards. You’ll see us in the community and celebrating your accomplishments. Your courses, teams, clubs, academies, and trips are a big part of the West Van, Bowen Island, and Lions Bay schools experience and we are very proud of our students and staff. But today I’m going to talk about Civics—maybe not as exciting as the fun stuff but just as important.
Unlike other levels of government, school boards are corporate boards. This means that individual trustees have no authority to act on their own, only the board as a whole has this authority.
“Ask your teachers about collective agreements”
While we’re elected by voters, we are in a co-governance model with the Ministry of Education and Childcare, our funding comes from the Ministry of Finance, and we have collective agreements with two unions. It’s a common misconception that we are allocated tax dollars from the communities we represent.
Although we debate issues, sometimes vigorously, because we are a corporate board, we come to a consensus that is then supported by all trustees. Unlike other levels of government, a record of individual trustee votes is not published. You may see stories in the media about trustees or boards behaving badly. This causes confusion among voters and is not good for public education. We don’t do that here.
“The Strategic Plan is is a core document and is published on our website”
So, what exactly do we do? We create the strategic plan, and hire the superintendent, who has responsibility for all operations in the school district. We approve policy, procedures, and the special courses that make us unique. Through budget planning and consultation, we ensure government funding for all aspects of public education in our district is aligned with strategic goals that support your achievement.
“If you’re interested in business or finance, take a look at our Audited Financial Statements—they’re online.”
We have many partners in this work, including you and your families, the Squamish Nation, unions, mayor and council, and a wide array of community groups. Trustees also belong to regional branches and our provincial body, the BCSTA. This is where we join together with trustees across the province to advocate for more money and flexibility within the funding model. We have around seven thousand students and hundreds of staff so every penny counts.
“If you have a lot of time on your hands, look up the K-12 Public Funding Model on the provincial government website”
I also was asked why I believe I’m the best trustee candidate. To be effective, school trustees must work together, so instead, I’ll tell you why I feel the board will be a stronger team if I’m re-elected. I collaborate with fellow trustees and our district leadership team and I try to listen more than I speak. I learn from the community and put student achievement at the centre of everything I do. And, I have a proven track record of recent and ongoing advocacy locally, regionally, and at the provincial level.
When deciding how to cast your vote, become informed. Look beyond what politicians say about themselves and what they post on social media. Yes, we love to visit schools and take part in events, but that is not the core mandate of the board. The real work is paying close attention to the money, future-proofing our schools through effective strategic planning and provincial advocacy with government, and making sure you are equipped to achieve your goals when you cross the stage in cap and gown.
Please visit sheelahdonahue.com to learn more about me and why I’m asking voters to return me to the school board for a third term.
Thank you.
This video was created on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish People