New independent candidate seeks Maple Ridge school trustee seat

Maple Ridge resident Kourosh Ahmadian is running independently for school trustee, saying he wants greater accountability in SD42 governance. Ahmadian, a parent of two children in the district, said his decision followed personal experience and his review of audited financial statements, budgets, board minutes, policies and public records.

He said trustees must independently oversee senior administration, follow the money and ensure public resources deliver results for students. Ahmadian criticized compensation for top board and district leadership while student programs and other areas are being cut.

He said elementary band funding lapsed, the Safe and Caring Schools Coordinator position was reduced and regular student transportation continued to depend on one-year budget approval. He also said two questions he submitted at a Dec. 3, 2025 meeting were not substantively answered, which he characterized as public participation in name only.

Ahmadian wants every trustee vote recorded in public board minutes. His platform calls for a four-year freeze on discretionary senior compensation, followed by a compensation review and transparent budgets that publicly identify trade-offs before trustee votes.

He also proposes directing more funding to classrooms to improve literacy and hire more teachers and educational assistants for students with disabilities and diverse abilities. Other proposals include an accessible process to correct student records and resolve parent concerns, with independent trustee oversight.

Ahmadian supports an SD42 Parents' and Students' Bill of Rights guaranteeing meaningful consultation, timely written responses, accurate student records, a fair correction process, and independent complaint and appeal access. He said policies that unfairly disadvantage students and parents should be reviewed and changed. If all seven trustees agree to serve without remuneration, he said he would do the same and support redirecting those savings to student programs and services.

Municipal elections are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17. Ahmadian’s website is https://trustee.kouroshahmadian.com/.