NWP school trustee team launches comprehensive plan to put students first with strong schools and trusted leadership

New Westminster, B.C. (August 31, 2026) — Just before Labour Day and the return to class, the New Westminster Progressives school trustee team has released Students First. Strong Schools. Trusted Leadership – a comprehensive education platform aimed at strengthening learning, supporting families and caregivers, improving student safety and well-being, and planning for the classroom space New Westminster urgently needs.

The NWP is running six school trustee candidates in this fall’s local election — Kathleen Carlsen, Danielle Connelly, Don Doyle, Anita Dunn, Liz Fajber and Lucas Steele. Together, the diverse candidates bring experience in parent advocacy, classroom and student supports, recreation, youth mentorship, financial stewardship, policy, governance and public accountability.

The platform is built around four priorities: student success and well-being; safe, inclusive and healthy schools; building and learning for the future; and collaborative, transparent leadership.

Candidate voices

• “Every child deserves to feel safe, supported and valued at school,” says Kathleen Carlsen, incumbent trustee and NWP school trustee candidate.” For me, that means putting students and the people who work with them every day at the forefront of our decisions. As our district continues to grow, we need to continue making the most of the limited resources we have, while advocating strongly for the funding, space and supports our students need. I will keep working for safe, welcoming schools where students can learn, staff feel supported and families know their voices matter.”
• “As a parent, trustee and Sapperton neighbour, I know how urgent it is to get students out of overcrowded conditions and into the proper school space they need to learn with confidence in their own community,” says Danielle Connelly, incumbent trustee, current board vice-chair and NWP school trustee candidate. “That means pushing for faster action on capacity, reducing reliance on portables, shortening waits for assessments, strengthening mental health supports and making sure students and educators have the in-class resources they need.”
• “All New West families know how much safe transportation, enough school space and practical decisions matter,” says Don Doyle, NWP school trustee candidate. “As a Queensborough parent advocate, I have seen how overcrowding, long commutes and uncertainty about school bus service affect students and families. I’m running to make sure those everyday concerns are heard and acted on with responsible spending and practical capacity solutions.”
• “I was born, raised and educated here, and now as a New Westminster parent I want to bring financial care and real-life experience to decisions that affect our students and families,” says Anita Dunn, NWP school trustee candidate. “Overcrowding, underfunding and transportation challenges are real pressures on families. Trustees need to advocate strongly for fair funding while making sure public dollars are used carefully, transparently and effectively to expand the space and supports students need.”
• “I will bring my experience in education and social policy, funding and government to the school board,” says Liz Fajber, NWP school trustee candidate. “New Westminster families deserve transparent decisions, real listening, strong partnerships and fair funding. That is especially important as we tackle overcrowding, plan for growth and work to ensure every student has the space, supports and resources needed to thrive.”
• “Growing up in New Westminster and mentoring young people here has shown me how much confidence, belonging and opportunity can shape a student’s future,” says Lucas Steele, NWP school trustee candidate. “But students cannot thrive if schools are overcrowded or if programs and supports are stretched too thin. I want to help build inclusive, well-resourced schools with the classroom space, learning supports, athletics and extracurricular opportunities students need to succeed.” 

Full platform: Students First. Strong Schools. Trusted Leadership.

Every New Westminster student deserves to feel safe, supported, included, and ready to succeed. We will put students first with practical action to strengthen learning, support families, caregivers and educators, build schools for a growing city, and earn public trust through open and transparent leadership.

Our priorities:

• Student success and well-being: Strengthen learning, wellbeing, inclusive supports and opportunities for the future so every student can learn, belong, and succeed.
• Safe, healthy, and inclusive schools: Improve counselling and mental health supports, reduce bullying, strengthen safety protocols and emergency readiness, and make sure schools are clean, welcoming, and respectful places to learn.
• Building and learning for the future: Press for more classroom space, better portable conditions, better childcare access, safe and reliable transportation, and climate-resilient schools for a growing New Westminster.
• Collaborative and transparent leadership: Put students first in every decision, communicate openly and accessibly, spend responsibly, advocate for fair funding, and strengthen partnerships with families, caregivers, students, staff, Indigenous communities, the City, and community partners.

Our commitment: We will listen, work together, and act — putting students first and advocating for the schools New Westminster families deserve.

Strong learning, well-being, and support so every student can succeed.

Why this matters: Student success starts with strong foundations in literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, communication, and well-being. Students also need access to a well-rounded education, including arts, athletics, STEM, skilled trades, digital literacy, leadership, and career-connected learning, so they can build confidence and prepare for the future. Educators and school staff need resources, stability, and classroom supports to support students. Fully funded classrooms and early interventions help every student reach their potential.

We will:

• Champion literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving to help students learn, strengthen achievement and build confidence.
• Strengthen opportunities in digital literacy, STEM, arts, athletics, skilled trades, leadership, and career-connected learning to prepare students for the future. We will advocate to the province for clear policies for AI in schools.
• Improve access to and advocate for more inclusive learning services, Indigenous education, English Language Learner supports, early intervention, and learning opportunities for all learners to help all students succeed.
• Expand access to arts, athletics, clubs, leadership, and extracurricular activities that build confidence and connection.
• Support teachers, Education Assistants and school teams by advocating for funding, well-resourced classrooms, professional development, stability and manageable workloads.

Goal: Every student is ready to learn, belong, and succeed.

Safe, Inclusive and Healthy Schools

Schools where students feel safe, respected, supported, and ready to learn.

Why this matters: Mental health and safety are at the top of minds for students, staff, families and caregivers. Students learn best when they feel safe, healthy, included, and supported. Families and caregivers need confidence that schools support student mental health, work to prevent bullying, respond to concerns, and are prepared for emergencies. Safe, inclusive and healthy schools help students build confidence and feel supported, safe and ready to learn.

We will:

• Advocate for more counsellors, mental health supports, nurse practitioners and wellness services so students, families, and caregivers can get help when they need it. We support BCTF’s and BCSCA’s recommendation for a 1:250 counsellor-to-student ratio.
• Ensure schools are safe, clean, and welcoming so every student feels protected, respected and belongs.
• Support strengthened safety protocols and emergency preparedness with clear communication and student protection plans for every school as guided by the Hour Zero Schools Assessment.*
• Support anti-bullying initiatives and improve online safety through promoting clear codes of conduct, reporting, privacy awareness, consent education, and digital citizenship.
• Champion equity, inclusion and Indigenous representation so students of all abilities, backgrounds, identities, and families are treated with dignity and supported to succeed.
• Support healthy, active school communities through promoting outdoor learning, access to green space and recreation, nutritious food, safe routes to school and climate education.

Goal: Students who feel safe, connected, and know they belong.

*Hour Zero is a leading North American provider of emergency preparedness and safety programs, specifically designed for K-12 schools.

Building and Learning for the Future

More space, better planning, and schools built for a growing city.

Why this matters: New Westminster schools are overcrowded, with one in four students learning in portables. New Westminster continues to grow rapidly, but provincial funding and investments have not kept pace. Planning for a new Tweedsmuir campus has moved forward, while families continue to raise concerns about relocation impacts and student transitions. At the same time, families face long waits for before- and after-school childcare and uncertainty about Queensborough students travelling to the high school. Students need more learning spaces, safe climate-resilient facilities, safe reliable transportation, accessible before- and after-school care, climate education, and schools built for growth.

We will:

• Tackle overcrowding, advocating for more classroom space through provincial funding for new schools, additions, site acquisitions and long-term capacity solutions. We will work with the City to identify future school sites early.
• Support affected communities with clear consultation and transition planning, including in the Tweedsmuir catchment.
• Press for improved portable conditions with reliable heating, cooling, ventilation, services, and safe access while pushing for permanent space.
• Advocate for secure, safe, reliable student transportation, including Walking School Bus routes and funding, sustainable transport for Queensborough students travelling to NWSS, and free transit for students 18 and under.
• Expand childcare access by working with the City on a joint childcare space and funding audit and advocate for provincial funding for seamless day models.
• Build climate-resilient schools with better heating, cooling, ventilation, shade, green space, and outdoor learning areas.
• Support practical sustainability through waste reduction, responsible resource use, greener fleets, climate education, and support for the Climate Action Working Group.

Goal: More space, better funding, and schools and students ready for the future.

Collaborative and Transparent Leadership

Clear decisions, responsible spending, and leadership families can trust.

Why this matters: Families, caregivers, students, and staff deserve leadership they can trust, especially as New Westminster schools face major changes, including new schools and grade reconfiguration. The public education system is systemically underfunded and needs fair, predictable funding, while existing resources must be used responsibly. Open, timely, and transparent communication and strong partnerships are essential so families, caregivers, educators, support staff, Indigenous communities, the City, and community partners have a meaningful role in shaping decisions that affect students and strengthen schools.

We will:

• Put students first in every decision.
• Communicate openly, transparently and timely — particularly during times of intensive change — so families and caregivers can help shape priorities, raise issues and receive responses, and see how their input influences decisions.
• Conduct, and act on, an audit of district communications to improve ways to best communicate with families, students, and caregivers.
• Commit to at least two listening sessions a year with trustees rotated around schools in New Westminster.
• Spend responsibly using evidence to inform decisions, make clear trade-offs, plan long-term, and focus on student outcomes.
• Advocate for increased and fair funding that reflects growth, inflation, and the real needs of students.
• Build strong partnerships with families, caregivers, educators, support staff, Indigenous communities, community organizations, public partners, and neighbouring districts to increase student voice and improve outcomes for students and families.
• Strengthen City–School District collaboration, including reconstituting the City-Schools Joint Committee to meet regularly and work together on school sites, responsible growth, before- and after-care, access to parks, and safe transportation.

Goal: Trusted leadership built through transparency, accountability, and collaboration.

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