West Van school trustee by-election
Read what candidates have to say – and vote!
Polling dates for the upcoming election are March 26, March 31, and the voting day is April 5th. Full details can be found here. We asked candidates to respond to five questions. Their responses are in alphabetical order and have not been edited. Positive Voices does not endorse any candidate.
Civic engagement is the lifeblood of the West Vancouver community, so Positive Voices asked the three candidates, who are running for one vacancy, for their answers to these five questions:
Why did you decide to seek this position?
How have you prepared yourself for this important role?
West Vancouver has long provided public education characterized by excellence. In this context, what does "excellence" mean to you?
The role of school trustee is not always well understood by the general public. How would you define the role of school trustee? What should trustees do, and what should they not do?
As a trustee, you would become an important advocate for public education. What are your thoughts on how best to accomplish this?
Sheelah Donahue
Why did you decide to seek this position?
I'm running for re-election because our students deserve an excellent educational experience full of opportunities that prepare them for the paths they choose in life. It is well-known that we have one of the top school districts in Canada. As a school trustee for eight years, I always strived to support the best learning environment for students, and I hope to be part of a board that continues this work. As a trustee, I will always be focused on advocating for more funding for West Vancouver schools, our students, and staff, and using that funding in the most impactful way. I cannot overstate how important this is to me—especially with an increasingly competitive post-secondary environment and globalized job market.
How have you prepared yourself for this important role?
My journey will be familiar to parents connected with their school communities. Like many parents, I attended my elementary school Parent Advisory Council (PAC) at Gleneagles- Ch’axáý then joined Rockridge PAC as co-chair for several years. From there, I served on the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) executive and finished my time there as DPAC chair. These experiences were excellent preparation for the role of trustee because parent groups, represented by DPAC, are partners with the school district. They interact together on many levels including budget consultation, establishment of programs, and act in an advisory capacity. In 2014 I was elected to the school board and served as a trustee until 2022. During this time my role included:
• Vice Chair, School Board
• Vice Chair, Human Resources Committee
• Chair, Audit Committee
• Vice Chair, Finance and Facilities
• Co-Chair, Joint School Traffic and Safety Round Table
• Trustee Representative, Joint Indigenous Education Council
• Professional Learning Committee Branch Representative, British Columbia
School Trustees Association (BCSTA)
• Delegate, BCSTA Provincial Council
• Executive, BCSTA Metro Branch
• Liaison, BC Public Schools Employers’ Association
• Representative, English Language Learners (ELL) Metro Consortium
• Trustee Liaison to all schools and many community groups
In addition to my work in education, I spent many years in the insurance industry and I understand risk management practices. I was a director on sports boards serving Bowen Island, Lions Bay, and West Vancouver, each of which is unique—especially with respect to the learning culture and student transportation. I’m currently a director of the West Vancouver Historical Society.
West Vancouver has long provided public education characterized by excellence. In this context, what does "excellence" mean to you?
Our school district is the envy of the province. Families in our three communities are deeply invested in education and entrust public schools with their children. Parents expect and deserve excellence and opportunity for every child, including those who have diverse learning needs and areas of special interest or aptitude. It is imperative that trustees place student success ahead of all other concerns and seek ongoing feedback on student achievement with respect to local, provincial, national and international data driven assessment metrics.
Creating a culture of excellence means that our school district must attract top notch staff and keep them. We must provide an environment in which innovative best practices thrive. We must provide students with a broad range of excellent academic programs that include space to achieve at a high level, like International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, and French Immersion; and that maintain well-executed supports for diverse learners, and those learning English.
Opportunities outside the classroom are an essential part of an excellent education. Our school district has many academies, special courses and programs to support students who compete internationally in sports, music, robotics and other areas that require scheduling accommodations and special instruction. Students who do not thrive in conventional classrooms have access to programs adapted to suit unique needs and challenges. Schools on Bowen Island and in Lions Bay are hubs for community activity, and other sites offer childcare and early learning opportunities. All of these things together contribute to West Vancouver School District’s reputation for excellence.
The role of school trustee is not always well understood by the general public. How would you define the role of school trustee? What should trustees do, and what should they not do?
Good trustees work productively and effectively on behalf of students with all levels of government in spite of shifting political landscapes. They should create an optimistic and collaborative board culture that sets the tone for the district, and that has a positive cascade effect throughout the system. When making decisions, the first question should always be “Is this good for our students?”
Although trustees make many decisions, they do not participate in operational matters, nor do they have authority to overturn or influence issues governed by federal or provincial mandates. However, they must understand parent concerns, take them seriously, listen compassionately, and provide appropriate advice. Trustees must also work collaboratively with the District Parent Advisory Council and welcome its right to give advice to the board on any matter pertaining to education.
Legislation and local policy and procedures guide the role of trustees. They are responsible for managing school properties and must pass a balanced budget. They decide disciplinary matters and approve special courses, academies and projects like the West Vancouver Place for Sport, and complementary endeavors like childcare and early learning programs. Most importantly, they are responsible for student achievement, should always put students first and must strive for continuous improvement in every way.
As a trustee, you would become an important advocate for public education. What are your thoughts on how best to accomplish this?
Being an effective advocate for public education means putting students first and listening to the parent community. It means having an awareness of how collective agreements impact the classroom and knowing how local, provincial and federal decisions impact schools and learners, and then doing everything possible to advocate for more resources in local classrooms. It also means campaigning through the British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA) for more local autonomy and flexibilityin the provincial funding model.
West Vancouver trustees have a history of being active regionally and provincially through the BCSTA. This helps our trustees become familiar with best practices in other districts and is the means by which they advocate for our students with the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care. In my previous terms as a trustee, I was actively engaged in advocacy for our students through my work with the following groups:
BCSTA Professional Learning Committee Branch Representative (elected)
BCSTA Provincial Council Delegate (appointed)
BCSTA Metro Branch Executive (elected)
BC Public Schools Employers’ Association Liaison
English Language Learners (ELL) Metro Consortium Representative
Neil Jensen
Why did you decide to seek this position?
I am running for school trustee because I am deeply committed to the future of our schools and our community. As a parent of two children—one in elementary school and one in high school—and the third generation of my family to attend West Vancouver schools, I am personally invested in their success. Over the years, many community members have encouraged me to run, recognizing my passion for positive change and my ability to get things done. Their support and encouragement empowered me to run.
I believe it is time for action, not just maintaining the status quo. Our aging facilities need modernization, and our students deserve better resources and stronger support systems. I am determined to ensure every student, regardless of their needs, has the tools and opportunities to thrive. I am also deeply concerned about the ongoing budget shortfalls from the provincial government. I want to explore new avenues for funding, such as private and corporate donations and the potential to incentivize philanthropy with taxable receipts, to unlock additional resources for our schools.
With a fresh perspective, a strong sense of responsibility, and a deep connection to our community, I am ready to advocate for our students and work toward a brighter future. I want to ensure West Vancouver’s education system remains a source of pride and excellence for generations to come.
How have you prepared yourself for this important role?
I bring over 25 years of experience in the construction industry, along with a background serving on various community boards and running my own company. This experience has equipped me with valuable skills in project management, budgeting, finance, and resource allocation—skills that are essential for overseeing school facilities and ensuring resources are directed where they are most needed. I am a firm believer in the power of culture, as I know it "eats strategy for breakfast," and I am committed to fostering a positive, results-driven culture in everything I do.
West Vancouver has long provided public education characterized by excellence. In this context, what does "excellence" mean to you?
West Vancouver has long been known for its high-quality public education, and to me, "excellence" is about more than just academic achievement. It means creating a holistic educational experience where every student is supported and equipped with the resources necessary to succeed both academically and personally. Excellence involves modern, well-equipped facilities, innovative learning opportunities, and a comprehensive support system that enables students to thrive.
Moreover, excellence requires a commitment to continuous improvement, adaptability, and responsiveness to the evolving needs of our community. But I feel what sets West Vancouver aside from other municipalities is that students are supported by active parent involvement in extracurricular activities, tutoring, and enrichment programs that complement classroom learning. It’s this extra effort from parents that turns our students from good to great. While our educators also continue to achieve outstanding results, they do so in the face of funding challenges. We must support our teachers and ensure they have the resources they also need to continue delivering excellence.
The role of school trustee is not always well understood by the general public. How would you define the role of school trustee? What should trustees do, and what should they not do?
As a school trustee, my primary role would be to represent the interests of the community and oversee the governance of our school district. This includes setting educational policies, ensuring fiscal accountability, advocating for students' needs, and maintaining open communication with parents and the community. However, trustees should not be involved in the day-to-day administration of schools—those responsibilities fall to the school district staff. Our focus is on strategic decision-making and policy development that supports long-term success.
As a trustee, you would become an important advocate for public education. What are your thoughts on how best to accomplish this?
I believe that effective advocacy for public education begins with transparent leadership. As a trustee, I would listen to the concerns of parents, students, and educators and make decisions based on input from all stakeholders. I also see creative solutions to funding challenges as crucial, such as encouraging private and corporate donations through tax-receipted contributions, which could provide much-needed additional resources for our schools. Ultimately, my goal is to advocate to the province that we need funding and support to ensure that every student in our district receives the best possible education and has the opportunity to succeed.
Roman Nurpeissov
Why did you decide to seek this position?
I am a parent with two children in West Vancouver’s public schools. I am running to add a strong parental voice to the board. Three of the four incumbents on the board do not have kids in our schools and one of my competitors in this by-election does not have kids in our schools either. Meanwhile, school children, via their parents, are key beneficiaries of our public education system. Therefore, concerns of parents from our community, their views and suggestions with regard to schooling of their children should be adequately represented on the board.
Some parents in our community feel that they either have not been adequately informed or have been ignored by our school administrators. I want to restore two-way communication between the parents and the school district. I will demand transparency and clarity with regard to the processes of the board’s decision-making, and I will clearly relate such processes to the parents to restore their trust. As a parent with a vested interest in the success of our public schools, I am well positioned to be the right liaison between the parents, and the district’s school administration.
How have you prepared yourself for this important role?
I am a lawyer admitted to law practice in three countries with 20 years of experience gained at international and Canadian law firms, accounting firms and multinational corporations. For five years, I was a part-time Assistant Professor of Law at a respected overseas law school where I consistently received high scores on students’ evaluation feedback. Since enrolling my children in West Vancouver public schools, I have been a PAC member (DPAC representative) of one public elementary school.
My legal education (J.D. and LL.M. degrees) from two top U.S. law schools, and professional background has prepared me to handle diverse and complex tasks, including those pertaining to the role of a school trustee: policy shaping, budgeting, oversight of annual and strategic plans’ implementation, reviewing employment contracts, as well as negotiating and hearing parents’ and students’ appeals. In short, I am qualified for the role of our district’s school trustee.
West Vancouver has long provided public education characterized by excellence. In this context, what does "excellence" mean to you?
To me, “excellence” in the context of public education means academic excellence. Scholastic achievement, thorough understanding of disciplines taught, and ability to apply the gained knowledge and skills in real life should be the key focus of instruction in public schools. After all, schools’ primary mandate has always been academic. Solid academic foundation of our children is a sine qua non of their future scholastic success and scientific research in colleges and universities.
That said, by academic excellence I do not mean a mere process of memorizing lessons and regurgitating the material on exams. Public schools need to raise students with strong logical and analytical reasoning skills, students capable of independent and creative thinking.
Lastly, schools must not indoctrinate students into any political agenda, religious beliefs or trendy social movements. Schools are primary temples of knowledge in which young kids must receive solid education in science and arts - without any political tilt or bias.
The role of school trustee is not always well understood by the general public. How would you define the role of school trustee? What should trustees do, and what should they not do?
The Trustee’s primary role is to direct Superintendent in performance of his duties (s. 22 of the School Act) and manage schools and property (s. 74 of the School Act), among many other duties and functions. For instance, the Board of Trustees set the district’s policies and its strategic plan, oversee the district’s finances and its operating budget, employ the district’s staff, including the Superintendent, and hear appeals from parents and students. The Board of Trustees delegate day-to-day management to the Superintendent who is responsible to the Board of Trustees for the improvement of student achievement in the district.
Analogizing to a corporate setting, the Superintendent acts as the CEO while the Trustees act as the Board of Directors that hires the Superintendent and oversees his performance. The students and parents are the ultimate beneficiaries, i.e., act as corporate stakeholders.
As a trustee, you would become an important advocate for public education. What are your thoughts on how best to accomplish this?
I strongly believe that I will be an effective advocate for public education because I am a careful listener, a convincing speaker, and a community leader with sound judgment. I am not weak or timid nor am I afraid to speak up my mind. I value transparency and welcome open discussion and debate. I have the courage to admit that our public education system has a number of pressing issues: declining PISA scores, budgetary constraints, aging facilities, difficulties with attracting and retaining best talent, to name a few. I am willing to devote my time and energy to try to find workable solutions to these issues and will be ready to advocate for our district’s interests and needs at the provincial level, if required.
Thanks for reading, Positive Voices
p.s. Don’t forget to get out and vote ☑️
