Interview With Ward 11 and 12 Catholic School Board Trustee Kim VanKosh

This is a continuation of a series of interviews that I will post about local candidates that are running in the 2010 Calgary municipal election. I do not endorse any of the candidates necessarily, unless stated otherwise. The intent is to allow the candidates a forum in which they can share some of their views as I feel that the school trustee candidates often do not get the same amount of attention from the mainstream media as the alderman and mayoral candidates.





This interview is with Kim VanKosh, who will be running for election as the Catholic School  Board Trustee in Ward 11 & 12 this term.

Why are your running for the position of school board trustee?


I am passionate about Catholic Education and want to be involved in the decisions that shape our school systems. About 18 months ago, I attended one of the initial sessions for the Inspiring Education Initiative and that involvement reinforced my decision to run as a candidate for School Trustee.

I believe that the Board of Trustees needs more diversity and that the Board needs someone with a new perspective. I have children that are in elementary school and have a different perspective than a Trustee whose children have graduated out of the school system. None of the current Trustees have children in elementary school.

Can you share some of your past volunteer, political and/or Board of Directors experience?



Nearly all of my past volunteer experience has been with youth and children. I have volunteered for Junior Achievement, Street Teams and sat on the Board of Directors for Interfaith Youth and Family Services. I have also sat on a condominium Board of Directors in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

I was Vice-Chair for one year and Chair for two years on Cardinal Newman School Council and Cardinal Newman Education Society. I also volunteer regularly at the school that my sons attend.


What is your future vision of the education system in Calgary?

A Catholic education system that provides support for all students, prepares students for the 21st century, results in students being life long learners and where all students graduate high school and have positive experience along the way.



What do you think the future of School Boards are in Alberta. What changes would you make to the school board trustee model?

I am assuming that this question is inquiring about the governance model for school boards. At this time I would not make any changes to the school board trustee model.


If you could implement one radical idea to improve the school system, what would it be?

Improvement of our school systems comes best from our stakeholders. This means that we obtain the input of School Councils, parents, parishes, students and other community members. This is not a radical idea but rather a practical and likely an effective idea. The Calgary Catholic School Board has made some strides here, which can be further built upon.


Kim's website is at http://www.kimvankosh.ca/Kim_VanKosh_for_School_Trustee/About_Me.html