Tell us about yourself.
Melissa Coates is the vice chair of the Columneetza Parent Advisory Council (PAC), and the PAC’s representative on the district level. She was born and raised in Williams Lake, is the mother of two, and is a founding member of Concerned Parents and Caregivers of Williams Lake.
In her two years as a PAC member, Coates has been heavily involved in fundraising for bursaries, and is now working to plan, design and fundraise for a playground at Columneetza.
Why do you want to be a school board trustee?
“I would really like to see some changes, and I'm not afraid to do the work,” Coates said.
Coates has been attending the board of education’s public meetings for some time, hoping to see action taken against violence and bullying. She wants to show that she’s not simply there to “complain,” but to make a difference.
What do you think is the top issue that school District 27 is facing?
Coates said that looking from the outside in, she feels there are quite a few issues.
She’s heard of “horrendous” stories of violence in schools and feels there are no safeguards to prevent this from happening to other kids, including her own.
She is also concerned about teachers and education assistants (EA) and the risk of burnout in the face of bullying and behavioural issues.
How do you plan to address that?
“I’m fairly straightforward, so I feel like I would question things... I would say what I think is right or wrong...even if I get voted down, I'm still going to try,” Coates said.
She said refunding alternate schooling is important, and suggested reintroducing police liaisons in schools.
Coates also said she wants to work towards policies for parents to have direct access to support when they have an issue which isn’t being resolved.
Literacy and numeracy levels in the district are well below the provincial average. What would you do to increase student achievement?
Coates discussed wanting to review the grading scale currently being used in the district and wants to look at attendance requirements because she thinks students who miss an excessive amount of class should not be passing.
She also sees the problems in literacy and numeracy as part of a bigger picture.
“If you're bullied, you don't want to go (to school),” she said.
Coates believes having support teams specifically available for students struggling with mental health, bullying and behaviour issues would be a big help.
What would you like to see in local in local schools that is not there now?
“I would like to see, obviously, adequate supervision. I would love to see a panel to support people that are struggling with bullying...and the alternative schooling...I would like the assault rates to drop...I would like more EAs and less burnout for teachers.”
Anything else?
“I'm definitely somebody that's not afraid to go against the grain,” Coates said.
She believes her willingness to say what she thinks will provide a fresh perspective to the board of education and ended by stating she wants to be a shield.
“I want to be the teachers, students, and EAs’ shield.”
