Megan Dykeman is taking a leave of absence from her position as president of the Langley District Parent Advisory Council so that she can run as a Township representative on the Langley Board of Education in the upcoming civic election.
After serving three years with DPAC and volunteering 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.
A chicken farmer from Langley's Fernridge neighbourhood, Dykeman is also active in the Township, serving her second term on the Agricultural Advisory Committee and volunteering with Langley's youth as a 4-H poultry leader.
"I promise to work together with the other elected trustees to rebuild the Langley School District into the lighthouse district it was once considered to be; to address the tough issues we face, including the large deficit that has arisen; the under-funding we face from the government, and and the governance issues that plague the current board and district as a whole," Dykeman said.
The district faces many issues, she said. "The complex contrasts of existing aging schools and the desperate need for more schools in the faster growing areas of Langley need to be urgently examined in an intelligent and forward thinking manner," she said.
"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."
She is running for a trustee position because she believes that it is vital to the future of the students of Langley School District that the members of Board of Education elected this term are committed to working together to ensure our students' success.
"This means leaving behind the divisiveness that has interfered with effective governance and renewing a commitment to improve existing relationships and build new relationships with partner groups, stakeholder groups, parents, students and teachers.
"Respect for all participants in achieving this important mission must displace the bullying, dismissing and ignoring that now perpetuate the problems we face," Dykeman added.
She said that it's time to "put aside the posturing and work cooperatively to find solutions that allow our children to have the education that they deserve and our taxes pay for."
She invites all parents, and other stakeholders to contact her with any questions or comments about what they feel are the most important issues that are facing the district. Her website is at www.megandykeman.com, and she can be contacted at 604 763-5019.