The Delta R.E.A.L. Team (Responsible Education and Academic Leadership) announced Wednesday it's running a unique coalition in the upcoming Delta school board election.
The R.E.A.L. platform is based on the belief that at the heart of a successful school district is a commitment to partnerships in public education.
Led by current board chair Dale Saip, R.E.A.L. includes incumbents Brenda Bennett-Schneider and Simon Truelove. Added to the team is retired teacher Nick Kanakos.
"Nick would be a valuable addition to the school board because of his extensive knowledge. He is a team-player who seeks excellence, as we do in our district," said Saip.
Bennett-Schneider, a life-long Delta resident who is married with two children in elementary school, is seeking a second term on the board.
"The successes over the last three years on school board have been as a result of innovative approaches and hard work," she said. "Delta is a vibrant school district with great people and I am ready to get to work for another term."
Truelove, a teacher, father and grandfather, has served on the board for six years. He is currently the vice chair and Delta's representative to the provincial council of the B.C. School Trustees Association.
"Our board has done extremely well over recent years in working with teachers and staff to achieve top graduation rates despite fiscal challenges," he said. "We are also attracting new students to Delta which is so important to the viability of our district."
Kanakos, whose teacher responsibilities, over 30 years in Delta, included school computer co-ordinator, department head and head football coach, has experience dealing with students, teachers, parents and the administration in the district.
"I understand the school system from the inside out," said Kanakos.
Saip and his family are longtime residents of Delta. He is the vice president of business development for the Vancouver Giants and he helped manage the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championships and 2007 Memorial Cup. First elected to the board in1987, Saip has also served as president of the Ladner Business Association and currently sits on the board of directors for the Vancouver Food Bank.
''The Delta school district has a long and distinguished history of academic excellence," said Saip. "We have a tradition of good sound management practices which includes good governance and solid leadership."
The election is Nov. 19.
