While New Westminster school district trustees are beginning to line up for re-election, a host of challengers are now putting their names forward for one of School District No. 40's seven board seats.
Most recently announced are Jonina Campbell, Nikki Binns and MaryAnn Mortensen.
Campbell, a Richmond teacher, mother of three local students, and outdoor play advocate, announced Monday that she will be on the ballot.
Campbell said she is running on a message of getting New Westminster's students more physically active.
"Students are spending too much time in front of screens. I have three children and I know that physical activity improves not only their physical health, but also their attention span and mental health," she said in a press release.
As a trustee, Campbell said she would push for policies that would bring more activity to the school day starting with encouraging kids to "walk, bike or roll to school."
Campbell said she is also running as a strong advocate for public education.
"All students are entitled to a quality education that develops their intellectual, physical, social and emotional growth," she said.
Campbell said she hopes to receive a New Westminster and District Labour Council endorsement.
Nikki Binns, a parent advisory council member and mother of seven, said Tuesday that she is in the process of getting election pamphlets made up for her campaign.
Binns first became active in local school politics when she became a strong advocate for keeping Hume Park Elementary open, but she said there are other issues that need attention including special needs education and the capital plan.
"Children with special needs, obviously, is a huge one for the district. There's just not enough funding there to get them the help they need," Binns said. "Getting these schools built is another huge issue for me, and keeping schools open in our district - not closing them."
Binns, who is also vying for a labour endorsement, said she is seeking a seat on the board because she wants to advocate for everyone's children the same way she advocates for her own.
"I know I'm not a politician. I'm just a concerned parent. I want the best for every child in this district, including mine. This is the next step in doing that," she said.
Mortensen issued a press release Wednesday declaring her campaign, after stepping down as chair of the district-wide parent advisory council.
Mortensen first became involved in local school governance in 2008 when the board of the day announced plans to build a new elementary of middle school in Grimston Park with "a lack due process" in deciding where new West Side schools should be located.
As such, Mortensen said seeing the long-standing capital plan through to completion must be the top priority for the next board.
Mortensen said, if elected, she will also help refocus the board on prioritizing students' education and openness in decision making.
"Every facet of decision-making needs to be child-centred, and better opportunities need to be created for parents to engage in their children's education," Mortensen said in the release. "There also needs to be greater transparency and accountability in how the New Westminster school board operates."
Mortensen is requesting endorsement by Voice New Westminster.
Coquitlam teacher David Phelan announced last Monday that he would be running again. Phelan ran in 2008, netting 2,322 votes - about 1,300 short of a board seat.
Vivian Garcia, who lost by just two votes after a judicial recount in 2008, said she will not be mounting a campaign this year, but she has an offer for this year's candidates.
"No, I'm not running, but I have a stack of four-foot long sign posts if anyone wants them - totally unused in the last election. There's about 100 of them," she said.
Four of the current board's trustees have committed to running again.
