James Rowley is making student mental health a priority in his Pitt Meadows school trustee campaign

James Rowley has decided to run for one of the two school board trustee positions representing Pitt Meadows now that his two children have graduated from the school district. He said he wants to give back to the community. Rowley identified a major challenge in public education as provincial funding failing to keep pace with inflation and the complex needs of children and families. He said the per-student funding model does not adequately reflect the range of needs in a classroom. “Our biggest challenge is meeting the health, mental health and educational needs of kids from Kindergarten to Grade 12 in buildings designed 40 years ago,” he said.

Rowley has several priorities. He wants the per-student funding model reformed to reflect the diversity of classroom needs, and mental health and SOGI supports available in safe spaces where students can be themselves and learn. He supports walking school buses and bike buses with planned routes and trained adult leaders; he noted that a funded pilot has started at two SD42 schools. He is also calling for more and improved child care on school grounds for Pitt Meadows families, daily attention to Indigenous reconciliation across the district, and more environmentally friendly school buildings.

Rowley spent 16 years teaching newcomers to Canada at Immigrant Services Society of BC, where he helped create the national Reconciliation Awareness LINC Lessons. He is president of the board of directors of the Maple Ridge Climate Hub, a Heritage BC Award winner and a Canadian Geographic Live Net Zero winner. He has also performed for many years with the Emerald Pig Theatrical Society’s Bard on the Bandstand. In 2014, he and his wife brought a collaborative theatre piece, “Just Us,” to Pitt Meadows Secondary School to explore racism and bullying in schools.

The longtime Maple Ridge resident said he is running in Pitt Meadows because strong candidates were running to represent Maple Ridge, but nobody seemed to be stepping up for Pitt Meadows. On his website, he said the school board needs a good mix of experience and perspectives, while some people’s ideology is not compatible with good governance.

Rowley said his family experienced the benefits of diverse, innovative programming in the district, including Montessori, Cyber School, International Baccalaureate, Interdisciplinary Arts and trades programs. They also encountered system limitations while trying to meet their children’s mental health needs. “I know we can do better,” he said. More information about his platform is at https://jamesrowley.ca/#top. Municipal election day is Saturday, Oct. 17.