Mike Lombardi intends to seek a nomination on the Vision Vancouver slate for the Vancouver Board of Education elections in November 2008. As of July 1, 2008, Mike will be working as an educational consultant with more than 35 years of experience in the BC education system. Throughout his 35-year career, he has been a passionate advocate for public education. Whether working as teacher, teacher activist, teachers’ federation official, member of the Lord Kitchener Parent Advisory Council, or chairperson of the Prince of Wales Secondary School Parent Advisory Council, he has worked tirelessly to achieve the necessary conditions and supports in the public school system that would enable all students to succeed and to realize their potential. Mike is the spokesperson for the Vision Vancouver Education Committee, a group of citizens charged with the task of developing an education platform and policies for the
school board election campaign.

Education Information
*Graduate Education: The University of British Columbia ’06. Master of Education
*Undergraduate Education: Simon Fraser University, 1973, Professional Development Program: 1980, Bachelor of General Studies
*High School: Britannia Secondary School, 1069, Vancouver

While she recognizes some of the school district's difficulties stem from provincial funding, Bacchus maintains trustees should take a greater role in lobbying the province and should become advocates for more funding.

The queer would-be nominee sat on the Vancouver School Board from 2002 to 2005.

Bouey says she stands on her record of playing a key role in the formation and implementation of the board's groundbreaking LGBT policy. She also sat on the board's subsequent Pride advisory committee, and its special education committee.

But there's still more work to be done, she says. Issues such as the implementation of curriculum changes arising out of the Corren agreement still need to be firmly addressed.

The Corren agreement with the provincial Ministry of Education arose from a human rights complaint alleging the lack of positive representation of queers in schools amounted to systemic discrimination.

The 2006 settlement gave the queer community, and Peter and Murray Corren in particular, an unprecedented role in reviewing BC's curriculum with an eye to adding positive images of gays and lesbians. It also led to the creation of a new pilot elective course on social justice issues.

Bouey says the next board needs to push the province for greater funding and resources to ensure the curriculum changes are implemented.

She's concerned that the current board is being soft on what she calls "rightwing bigots" in implementing the Corren decision.

"Vancouver needs to take the lead," she says. "There needs to be more vocal spokespeople willing to stand up for our rights and safer schools for all students."