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page 26 - December 7, 1977 - North Shore News

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Dear Editor:

This letter is in response to the recent **North - Shore News** article entitied ‘School Board .Won’'t Join Efficiency Quiz in WV"’ (November 30, 1977).

. My response is a personal

one and has’ not. been reviewed by the = school board.

I must state at the onset that informed public opinion on.clearly defined issues is one of .the ‘most valuable

_. references in reaching decis-

‘fons on public‘policy. Decis- _ions on educational matters ' should certainly invite input from the public since school-

ing lies at the heart of our |

public service instituions.

That 50% of our local taxes goes to schools and that the

public determines who will.

_represent their views and make decisions on a school

board is further evidence of |

the importance of .education in our system. of local government. More specific-

ally, the municipal council.

_ can make. choices regarding

the allocation of funds among a-number of services, includ- :

ing fire and police protect- ion, garbage disposal, parks and . ambulance _ services. Because education questions are within the jurisdiction of the school board, questions should be consid- ered independently of a

survey on municipal serv-—

ices. ;

Having emphasized the value of public opinion, my concern with public opinion surveys and the education questions suggested are the following:

1) The questions imply.

that ‘getting public opinion is ‘Synonymous with planning. This i is categorically not true

IN THE

Readers’ letters. to ‘MAILBOX ere welcomed. Please them: to: The Editer, North Shere News, 4139) : onsdale Avenue, Nerth. Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4.. I [News reserves the right to edit for length, iegality and tea ff meee

ion:

these |

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"since -e planning i is not a matter - -of opinion but.-a series of:

judgments on an_ array of

-both technical and subjective

Thic

Oe ret)

information. array of information is not usually provided in questionnaires.

Opinions are statements of _ value and they have their- _place in setting objectives

towards which plans are

‘directed.

2) Questions inviting opin- should concern real issues and real choices. The choices offered in the prop- osed questions imply: that ‘only some are -issues_ for

planning and policy when,

indeed, all of- them deserve attention.

3). Policy ‘makers. must

_ Know on what . information

public choice is made. Without full information on the survey form such as

costs, possible benefits and

impact on other programs - it is impossible to know wheth-

er the respondent is aware of. the alternatives or. their implications on any of the.

questions. All questions submitted have this fault.-

- ings jointly sponsored by. the ‘School. Board’ and::the . -Van Parents Association fi ive |

- The most disturbing as-~ pect of. the question$ on education is that thev give

the impression of. public

involvement in planning and. policy making when, in fact,

because of the limitations of the questions, public opinion expressed in this form can have very little influence on ‘those decisions when and if they can and will be made.

Let me illustrate by referr- ing to the questions noted in your article:

Do you feel there is good value for school taxes?_As’a school. trustee and local ‘taxpayer, I know that the

Board is working continuous-

ly towards improving’ the

value of the education tax

_ accept this objective as my

‘becomes available in schoois, - how should i¢ he ncod? This

is a decision that should only be made on a= school-by-.

-needs of

‘factors | a efficiency. |

' because. - costs. Moreover. the public _

“I assume ‘this’ to be » the .

_elected to public office where .

‘in obtaining public input’ to |

tations to the board on specific issues, as well as the |

tation of the. Board on all

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responsibility.” as a Schoo ArUSCCe oy a

“When- school | population ; ' ; goes down and surplus space ©

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school basis according te the

_ that particular school community, as well as

of . economy and

. Should school costs go up and down as school populat. ion goes up and down? This is a. false. question! Not all. - school costs are ‘directly related to school _population ° some are fixed -

expects, indeed demands, a certain level and range of school program offerings: | despite - the number: of _ children attending. AN ex- peditures are. not directly _. related to enrolment.

Should. school taxes ‘and education services Increase . or decrease ‘or remain the same? In my role ass school rrustee, we are always trying to find ways to “increase services and minimize costs. -

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-

The current approach used

West Vancouver School Board policy decisions pro- vides opportunity for presen-

channel of the West Van Parents Association, which has a local organization at almost © all schools; the. **Education Forum” . meet-. -

Vest times per. year; the represen-

major public boards and committees in the municipal- ity; and the continuous dialogue by individual school | trustees with members of | the public which we serve. —-

Asa member of the West Vancouver School Board | shali continue to invite public — opinion on’ clearly defined issues in which involvement and opinion can be .used to. their maximum, advantage.

Mrs. Audrey Sojonky School Trustee,

School District #45 (West Vancouver),

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