Adam Bramburger
Beaver Staff
Laurie French took an active interest in the education system by joining a parent council when her children started schooling in Napanee. Now, she advocates for public education on the national stage.
French became a trustee on the Limestone District School Board in 2000 and has continued on to become the president of the Ontario Public School Boards Association and the Canadian School Boards Association.
She’d like to continue her work of advocating for students, schools, and public education.
French said she believes many people have been happy with her work at the board table and hopes when they come to vote, they’ll remember her experience and proven dedication. After 18 years, French says she sees her job as one promoting accountability and communication.
“Trustees must hold the education system accountable to deliver on the quality education our children need. We need to continue to find ways to communicate with and hear from parents and citizens across the Greater Napanee district to share the important work of our schools,” she said. “Funding is tight, and we can’t expect to have continuous increases in our budget, but we must continue to advocate for schools and make sure the resources we have are used efficiently to serve the needs of kids.”
Throughout her time with the board, French said she has supported a range of programming including technology, math, reading, the arts, mental health supports and special education.
French said one of the neat things about her role as a trustee sitting who has sat on provincial and national organizations is her ability to use Napanee as a model for rural education so that others may remember those communities’ needs.
“I am very proud to say I am from Napanee in this role and I talk about what works at schools such as ours. What works in big city centres does not necessarily work here,” she said. “We need to protect rural education and work with our municipal councils and parents.”
The trustee believes her experience will help the board as it works with the new provincial government, particularly as only four members are running for return.
“It really is about how to build that relationship with the new government and express what it is we need and inform those policies before they’re written. That’s the window of opportunity we have now,” she said.
French pointed to the Limestone board’s leadership in expressing concerns about proposed changes to health curricula this year and how, working in concert with its teacher-union groups, the efforts led other school boards to advocate in a similar fashion.
“With many policy changes, we need to inform and make sure the needs of our schools are represented.”
French says she has been asked about previous school closures on the campaign trail. In the past, she said, she spoke for Napanee and she voted against the closures of H.H. Langford and Sandhurst, advocating for another rural school in addition to Southview. She also said she was vocal about her dissatisfaction for the process for the parents then and worked with the board to revise the process. Moving forward, French said she’d like to see municipal partners engaged in the planning process sooner to proactively plan for shared use of buildings and spaces.
Questions have been raised about Selby Public School during the campaign and French says she can confirm closure has never been on the table. It is part of a board-wide review of schools, but only because it hasn’t been reviewed before.
“That is not a to-do list. I know the moratorium can change. At this time, Selby has not been considered for closure. The moratorium would have to be lifted and trustees would have to approve a review of Selby or any other school.”
French said she will continue to advocate for a funding model in Ontario that supports rural schools and avoids consideration of closers in the future. She said the board will continue to support its rural schools.
Looking at what makes her the ideal candidate, French says there is still work to be done to keep schools in good condition and students achieving. She said she’s been active in holding the system to account for school supports, school conditions and fiscal management and has been accessible, taking regular calls from parents and community members about safety, playgrounds, community use of schools, bussing and other concerns.
That experience matters, she said.
“Some level of continuity and experience is going to be very important. I have proven dedication to our schools and also our town,” French said. “I am a proud member of the Lennox and Addington 100+ Women Who Care and I’m the current vice-president of the Community Foundation for L&A, contributing in a variety of ways to making our community better. I would look forward to working for Napanee again this term.”