Dave Shields for RCDSB Trustee
Twenty-year veteran Renfrew County District School Board trustee Dave Shields is seeking another term as trustee with the board.
“I am fully retired with little family commitments and a very supportive wife of 46 years, Susan,” RCDSB Vice Chair Shields said. “We live in the best place in the world and this my way of giving something back to our community.”
Over the past 11years Mr. Shields’ involvement with education was focused on the well-being and enhanced opportunities for RCDSB students.
“Every one of our students deserves the right to the best educational opportunities possible so they can live productive, successful and happy lives,” he said. “My vision on how to best accomplish this has two parts. Part one is my involvement with the RCDSB. I believe our board has developed an excellent strategic plan with student achievement and well being in the fore front of everything we do. My years of experience and my leadership roles, as both chair and vice chair for the last eight years, have allowed me to make a valuable contribution to this planning and to our education system as a whole.”
Trustee Shields’ second focus is at the provincial level. He has served in various leadership roles with the Ontario Public School Board Association (OPSBA) including director; two years as chair of the Policy Development committee; and at the 2014 AGM in July, Mr. Shields was elected for a third one-year term as vice president for the Eastern Region.
“If I am re-elected locally, I will be able to represent the public school boards of Eastern Ontario on the executive of OPSBA and continue to be a strong voice for our board and the boards of Eastern Ontario at the provincial table,” Mr. Shields said.
There are many issues that face school boards and the provincial trustees association. Locally there is declining enrolment; an increase in the number of high needs students; preparing students for a global economy; and to ensure the effective use of rapidly advancing technology.
“Keeping up to modern technology in rural Ontario is a huge endeavour,” Mr. Shields said. “We have to ensure our students have access to the latest technology and we need policies in place to make sure technology is used effectively as a tool and not a distraction in our classrooms.”
The responsibly of a school board is to, not only educate, but also to build character in our students.
“Our character education program continues to be a priority of mine,” Mr. Shields said. “I believe it’s our responsibility to not only educate our young people but help them build strong character. I have been instrumental in the development of a program to teach our students to recognize good character traits, demonstrate good character and find a way to measure how well we’re doing.”
On the provincial level with OPSBA there are challenges with establishing an equitable funding model to fully address the needs of special needs students; to assist with the evolution of the school boards’ new role in provincial bargaining; continue to lead the province in addressing the mental health needs of children and youth; and finally to work with the provincial government in an advisory capacity to address other educational issues as required.
“I have worked hard for 20 years, as a trustee, to gain respect both locally and provincially,” Mr. Shields said. “I am now positioned to continue in leadership roles to ensure our students have every possible opportunity to succeed and excel.”
