Megan Dykeman has announced that she will be seeking re-election as a Langley Township representative on the Langley Board of Education in the upcoming civic election.
Dykeman, who chairs the board policy committee and holds a degree in governance, law and management, was first elected to the Langley Board of Education in 2011. Prior to that, she served three years with DPAC and volunteered with Parent Advisory Councils since her two children entered the school system. Dykeman has a strong commitment to improving educational opportunities for students in the Langley School District.
Board chair Wendy Johnson and Trustee Cecelia Reekie have both stated they are not running again.
A chicken farmer from Langley's Fernridge neighbourhood, Dykeman is also active in the Township. She has served as chair of the Agricultural Advisory Committee for the past two years, and as chair of the Blueberry Cannon Task force. She also volunteers with Langley's youth as a 4-H poultry leader.
The election in 2014 brings with it new four-year terms. With two trustees not seeking re-election, Dykeman commented "Although this election will bring change, I am excited to work with whomever the electors of Langley choose.
“I have enjoyed immensely working with this board. We have accomplished many things, including paying off early a large deficit of over $13 million and rebuilding trust in the district by improving communication with partner groups and parents. We have implemented nearly all of the recommendations in the Auditor General's report, improved board governance and have generally reduced the dysfunction that plagued the board and district as whole in the past by putting the focus on delivering the best education we can for the over 19,000 children in the district."
Dykeman intends to continue to concentrate on the three pillars of “accountability, communication and respect” that guided her through the last election and this term.
“These core values really are the cornerstone of what elected officials need to keep at the forefront of their minds when they represent the public."
Her top priorities include: continuing to advocate for more schools for Langley’s fast-growing neighbourhoods and for more funding for a system that is significantly underfunded and working with the district to continue to implement the new mission, vision and values and long term facilities plan developed over the last two years.
"I am committed to working with the other trustees to expand communication and working relationships with the Langley Township and ministry of education to find the best solutions to school infrastructure and the other significant issues we now face in the Langley district.”
Dykeman says: “Now that the board has committed to leaving behind the divisiveness of the past that interfered with effective governance, I am excited about what we can continue to accomplish this coming term by continuing to improve existing relationships and build new relationships with partner groups, stakeholders, parents, students and teachers."
She invites all parents and other stakeholders to contact her with any questions or comments about what they feel are the most important issues facing the district. Her website is at www.megandykeman.com, and she can be contacted at 604-763-5019.