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Chantelle Morvay

Independent for Nanaimo School Board

Climate Change

Energy-Efficient Buildings & Retrofits

I will champion the use of the newest technologies/science to make sure we are surpassing our climate impact reduction goals.

Human Rights

Physical Accessibility

Access for ALL

Physical accessibility is one part of equitable access to education. Self-determination and access to proper accommodations is also a part of accessibility. This is an area in which I have alot of experience and knowledge. I will increase accessibility by building relationships, capacity and infrastructure to deliver truly equitable educational programming to students with disabilities, neurodivergent students, and complex learners.

I will also help with Identifying current gaps in staffing and our service delivery to designated & not yet designated students in order to problem solve effective long term solutions.

Recent Immigrants

We need to make sure new arrivals to our school district are well supported and get to feel connected to the community as soon as possible.

Recent Immigrants, refugees & undocumented immigrants all still have rights within our systems. We are a growing community with a wonderful influx of diversity and we have a responsibility to make sure we are supporting new families by providing them all the information they need to navigate the school system and to know what their rights are in this new environment. Working closely with stakeholders, we need to make sure what we have in place now is adequate for the growing needs and see where we may improve.

Refugees & Undocumented Immigrants

We need to make sure new arrivals to our school district are well supported and get to feel connected to the community as soon as possible.

Recent Immigrants, refugees & undocumented immigrants all still have rights within our systems. We are a growing community with a wonderful influx of diversity and we have a responsibility to make sure we are supporting new families by providing them all the information they need to navigate the school system and to know what their rights are in this new environment. Working closely with stakeholders, we need to make sure what we have in place now is adequate for the growing needs and see where we may improve.

Trans Rights & Access to Services

Trans Rights are human rights. They deserve the same respect, dignity and access to services as everyone else.

As I've said before-Access for all... ALL means ALL. I am proud that this province is dedicated and recommitted to SOGI, making our schools a much safer place for all. I am committed to upholding these rights and I will bring a lens of equity to the role of Trustee so that we make sure our policies and procedures are anti-oppressive.

Local Government & Democracy

Budgeting

Good budgets are integral to a well functioning school system. Great budgets help innovate.

I will make sure that we are using our budget in innovative ways so that staff are well supported and students are given equitable access to be successful.

Public Engagement

Public engagement needs to be made more accessible.

I have found that when we open the doors on engagement, we end up with more collaboration, learning and mutual trust. I will work to make sure the way in which we engage the public as barrier free as possible.

Youth Engagement

Our youth is ultimately the reason Trustee's exist. Their input is critical to inform our decision making.

I will make sure we are listening and acknowledging the lived experience of our youth. That we use that knowledge to make sure we are going in the right direction. Getting creative in how we do that, and making sure we capture a diversity of voices with good representation is imperative.

Mental Health, Drugs, & Addiction

Mental Health in Schools

This is a critical yet nuanced experience in schoools that needs to be delved into in a more concerted way.

Mental health effects all of us. Some more than others and for different reasons. Sometimes mental health is a symptom of a situation that is caused by societal pressures, sometimes it's a misdiagnosis, or not diagnosed at all and thus not having enough information to support. There are many different facets and a one size fits all approach is not possible. I will bring my experience and knowledge to the table to collaborate on solutions with staff and stakeholder to tackle these complexities.

Public Safety & Policing

Police in Schools

Historically, oppression has often come at the hands of law enforcement.

If we are to move forward in a non harmful way, we must recognize and acknowledge our past and the trauma that many have suffered at the hands of law enforcement, especially those in racialized and disabled communities. I feel that we need to reimagine how we make connections with law enforcement in the school and wider community. How this would look going forward would need to be made collaboratively, that would include the student voices most effected by police in schools.

Upstream Causes of Crime

Success rates in school are closely tied to success rates of students in the future.

I see the connection between students who have had success in school to success in their adult life. We still have too many students falling through the cracks. I see the potential consequences of not catching them before that happens. I am committed to addressing any deficiencies in lack of service delivery and making sure we are doing everything in our power to work with staff, families, students and organizations to make sure we have proper wrap around supports for all those who need it.

Reconciliation & Indigenous Nations

Indigenous Languages

I will continue to encourage that Indigenous Languages be taught in all schools

Language is culture. Making sure Indigenous Languages continue to be rekindled and spread so that they no longer have the chance of being lost to history is critical work.

Indigenous Schooling

It is foundational that Indigenous Schooling be increased around our district.

As PAC president of Nanaimo Learning Alternatives, it has been my great honour to see the students in these programs flourish because of the caring staff and leadership making sure it is rooted in Indigenous Culture and Teachings. I will do everything in my power to make sure that we continue to remove the colonialist trappings of control and continue to support and give back power to First Nations so that they may choose what works best for them.

Land & Governance

This is a topic for which I would need to listen and learn more from First Nations to be able to help any kind of future plans.

Places Names, Statues, & Other Commemorations

I will support the change of place names to names, statues, and other commemorations that fits better with the shared future we want to see.

The history of this province is one of bright innovation, but also lots of darkness. We need to acknowledge the truth of the past so that we can work together for a brighter future. Change is good and learning and growing is the foundation of our education system.

Residential Schools

We must understand the past so that we don't repeat it.

Some folks would like to believe that was far in the distant past. It was not. We need to learn as much as we can about the system that allowed this to take place in the first place. Our public school system was created with these same colonialist ideals that are still oppressive today. I aim to support the learning of Residential schools in a culturally safe way in our school systems. I would also make sure that the proper teaching resources are there for staff and that it is done in a way that does not create more harm.

The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

This is a critical piece to making sure we do not only what is needed, but what is right.

Schools & Public Education

Addressing Bigotry

Bigotry is Oppression

Bigotry, bullying, exclusion are all tools of oppression. We cannot move forward as a society if we don't address how our systems continue to uphold bigotry. I want to see more action taken in teaching children human rights for all starting in Kindergarten, and how when we act in a bigoted way we are discriminating against another person's right to dignity and respect. We also need more campaigns on what human rights mean for the individual and society as a whole.

Indigenous Schooling

It is foundational that Indigenous Schooling be increased around our district.

As PAC president of Nanaimo Learning Alternatives, it has been my great honour to see the students in these programs flourish because of the caring staff and leadership making sure it is rooted in Indigenous Culture and Teachings. I will do everything in my power to make sure that we continue to remove the colonialist trappings of control and continue to support and give back power to First Nations so that they may choose what works best for them.

Media Literacy & Critical Thinking

We must support our teachers in teaching these incredibly critical skills

As a district we need to do all that we can to teach our students a deeper understanding of the media we are interfacing with; the who, what, where, when and why...and the pitfalls and strengths. We must encourage critical thinking and I think the district can play a role in not just educating our students, but our community.

Neurodivergent Students

As a neurodivergent person myself, I bring to the table my own experiences in school.

I have worked in this sector for a long time and with my own personal experiences as a neurodivergent person, I can bring a new perspective and representation to the School Board table. I also want to address the extra challenges of intersectionality and make sure that we are working with that lens.

Access for ALL

Physical accessibility is one part of equitable access to education. Self-determination and access to proper accommodations is also a part of accessibility. This is an area in which I have alot of experience and knowledge. I will increase accessibility by building relationships, capacity and infrastructure to deliver truly equitable educational programming to students with disabilities, neurodivergent students, and complex learners.

I will also help with Identifying current gaps in staffing and our service delivery to designated & not yet designated students in order to problem solve effective long term solutions.

Police in Schools

Historically, oppression has often come at the hands of law enforcement.

If we are to move forward in a non harmful way, we must recognize and acknowledge our past and the trauma that many have suffered at the hands of law enforcement, especially those in racialized and disabled communities. I feel that we need to reimagine how we make connections with law enforcement in the school and wider community. How this would look going forward would need to be made collaboratively, that would include the student voices most effected by police in schools.

School Vaccination

Safety should be a districts number 1 priority

For folks who would like to get their child vaccinated, we need to make this as accessible as possible. NFLD has the highest vaccination rate for covid amongst students and it is in large part because the vaccination clinics were held in the schools. Noone was pressured to get a vaccination, but it does help enormously for families who have a hard time getting their child into appts. Vaccinations are well supported by science. I do believe in bodily autonomy though and it is a person's right to choose what they do with their body, it must be acknowledged that they are not protected against certain diseases and are taking their safety into their own hands.

Student Involvement & Engagement

Our youth is ultimately the reason Trustee's exist. Their input is critical to inform our decision making.

I will make sure we are listening and acknowledging the lived experience of our youth. That we use that knowledge to make sure we are going in the right direction. Getting creative in how we do that, and making sure we capture a diversity of voices with good representation is imperative.

Before and After School Childcare

Childcare is critical and must be enhanced for us to become a more thriving society

I want to build relationships with childcare providers, Vancouver Island University programs and other stakeholders to help build capacity and expand inclusive, accessible childcare across the district. The system we currently have is restricted in the number of children with disabilities we allow in these spaces. I will work hard to address the factors that allow for that to still happen...and make sure future plans factor that in.

Safe, accessible transportation routes

We want folks to walk or use public transit more, but for many it is just not safe or convenient to do so.

Many rural areas still don't have sidewalks or proper crosswalks to their schools. We need better bussing services, whether that's public or school district. We need to increase collaboration with towns and RDN to expand what is there in a way that helps families most achieve these goals, including snow removal and lighting. This can also make it more accessible for those with mobility challenges.



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Biography

submitted by the candidate or their team
As a parent to two school-aged kids, I’ll draw from my years of PAC & DPAC experiences, non-profit board management as a member on the Board of Directors for multiple Disability/vulnerable sector Non-Profits , and Strata & Building Management.

When my children were young, I sat on our Strata Council for 9 years, developing strong board, project and budget management experience. This inspired me to pursue Strata Management Licensing and a career in property management. As my career grew, it was incredibly hard to find inclusive childcare. I decided the best for my family was to focus on them and their schooling, while developing my advocacy, communication and interpersonal skills. We experienced a lot of rough roads in the education system and that led me to join BCEdAccess. I'm proud to have helped grow a little group of parents into the incredible organization of 4500 people it is today. 

I am not one to stay still, so, while my children were attending school, I had the honour of being DPAC Co-Chair for their district and attending school board meetings. That role allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the school district “from the inside”. I truly appreciated the collaborative approach the Trustees took with the stakeholders and their compassion and strength in dealing with the tough issues. 

While having the great honour of being PAC President of Nanaimo Learning Alternatives last year, I saw students grow and flourish under the mindful care of the incredible staff there. Relationship -centered and Indigenous led, they all taught me a deeper understanding of what Truth and Reconciliation really means.  

This is how I would like to lead: with curiosity, compassion, and determination to see all kids not only access a quality education but be given the foundation to thrive as they move through life. 

In doing so, I’ll draw from my years of non-profit board management, financial & budgetary responsibility, legal and policy framework accountability, and a deep appreciation of what students, families, educators, staff and the board face daily and over the long term. You have my commitment to you to help make this the most innovative school district in the province!

Currently, I wear many hats that encourage me to grow and learn daily. 

 I am an Invigilator for Accessibility Services at VIU, Nanaimo. Treasurer, Board of Directors, BCEdAccess, Chair and Co-Founder of ADHD Advocacy Society of BC, Vice-President, Federal NDP EDA, Project coordinator for Inclusive online Minecraft Social Sessions, BCEdAccess, Outreach Representative for the Disability Caucus of the Provincial NDP

Reason for running

submitted by the candidate or their team

My priorities are to target grad rates for students who are historically marginalized including Indigenous students and students with disabilities. Ensure we are providing what schools and staff need to provide a truly inclusive, accessible education for all. This includes increasing hiring and retention of Educational Assistants. Work to expand before and after school care in a responsible, community driven way. I will strengthen collaboration with the surrounding municipal governments and RDN to broaden safe walking and public transit routes.

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