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Janyk running for fourth term as trustee

Brett stepping down as Whistler representative on school board

Whistler Secondary is maybe the only high school in all of Canada to offer a flexible timetable to students in high performance athletics. At the same time, Whistler students consistently rank among the top in the province when it comes to academics, whether it’s standardized tests or making the provincial honour roll.

Those are just a few of the reasons why André Janyk is passionate about her job as a Whistler school trustee for School District 48. She has served on the board of trustees for the past nine years, and is running once again in the Nov. 19 civic elections.

Don Brett, who also served as a Whistler trustee, is stepping down.

"I’ve decided to not seek re-election and the primary reason for that is I had difficulty balancing the time demands of the job with the other aspects of my life," said Brett.

"I’ve really enjoyed the experience and found it challenging and interesting and I think that the current state of the district is quite good. We’ve got some great momentum in a variety of areas. The district has vastly improved its planning and goal setting process with the result that we have a much more cohesive team now and we are more effectively working towards our goals."

But that is not to say there aren’t challenges for the future said Brett.

"The board’s time is limited and identifying priorities and those areas in which board activity can have a positive effect on learning outcomes is a significant challenge, but I think the key is to take a look at the initiatives underway and continue to support them."

Said Janyk: "I was actually thinking about not running this year, but when Don told me he wasn’t I decided to run again. I do believe it’s important to have some continuity in the district from the Whistler area, and feel there’s some really positive things going on… important to the ongoing fostering of excellence at Whistler Secondary."

With the teachers’ union officially on strike, and engaged in work-to-rule job action at schools, it won’t be easy at the school board. However, Janyk says it’s not the first time she’s served as trustee during a strike.

"Education always presents its challenges, whether it’s some change in direction or policy, a change of minister, or a change in the teachers’ position in relation to the Ministry of Education," she said. "In a way that’s part of the excitement, part of the fun is meeting those challenges, and keeping the students’ needs at the forefront of your thinking, and doing what’s best for the kids."

Looking back at her record, Janyk is proud of many of the projects and initiatives she has been involved with over the years. Among the more recent, she is proud of the new expansion of the science wing at Whistler Secondary and the creation of a new common room/lunch room for the students. She is also proud of the development of Spring Creek Elementary School, and the two-storey approach to the design. "I think it’s become a fantastic school and the kids like learning there," said Janyk.

In a broader context, she is also proud of helping provide day-to-day resources to schools and students, while early on recognizing the need for more flexibility in the curriculum.

"Generally, my overall focus has been on the needs of children, and striving for academic excellence, while also recognizing the need for a flexible education program at Whistler Secondary," she said. "Whether it’s arts or sports, there is now an opportunity for kids to pursue other activities at a high level while getting a good high school education."

She helped to create Whistler Secondary’s Flex Ed program after watching her own children try to balance ski racing with high school. Two of her children, Britt and Michael Janyk, are on the national ski team.

One of the initiatives that Janyk is spearheading is a program to get local students involved with hosting the 2010 Winter Games. "I’d like to see us involved in 2010 and look at ways how the students can be constructively involved in the activities of the Olympics," she said. "There needs to be some planning attached to that. Already there’s been a committee struck, I’m chairing that committee, and working forward to… ensure there’s an opportunity for all kids in the corridor to be involved, maybe in an artistic way, maybe in a cultural way, and certainly to have the opportunity see athletes at the highest level."

While it’s a demanding position at times, Janyk says the position of trustee is also rewarding.

"All I have to do is step into a school to watch kids at work, at play, doing artwork, doing drama, and it’s worth it. One of the most fulfilling events is to go to high school graduation – I’ve been here long enough to watch some kids from kindergarten right through Grade 12, or at least from their early elementary years, and to see them stand there as adults ready to conquer the world and participate in our society is pretty motivating," she said.

In the last election, Janyk received almost 370 more votes than the next candidate.

To date Janyk is the only candidate running for the two Whistler school trustee positions. The deadline for candidates to register is Oct. 14.

— With files from Clare Ogilvie