New candidate enters Ward 1 election for Hanover school board

Paul Lavin has thrown his hat into the ring for trustee of Ward 1, going up against incumbent Jeff Friesen.

“I’m just a regular guy who wants to see the division succeed,” he said.

Lavin is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States. He grew up just outside of Chicago, but spent most of his adult years in Atlanta and Tennessee. He met his wife Jennifer, a Niverville native, in the United States and as their son Cooper got older, the couple decided to move to Canada to raise him. He has spent 14 years in Niverville and is an IT professional, and worked in the Hanover School Division for 10 years in its IT department.

After Hanover, he moved to the Seine River School Division to work as an IT specialist in order to further his career.

He said he decided to run for school trustee as he always felt a connection to Hanover School Division and he believes it needs to be taken in a new direction that is student-focused and more education focused.

When looking at the current board, Lavin said the bad press the division has received is concerning.

“A well-run school board should not be in the news constantly. The news should be focused on the accomplishments of the kids, the accomplishments of the schools, how well everything is doing, and how the education is going,” he said.

Lavin would like to see more student and parent engagement with the board, he’d like to educate the public on what the school board does, and he wants to get parents more engaged with their children’s education.

He believes the role of a trustee is to “govern and to make policies and to make sure that the kids are getting the best quality education possible.”

He said he didn’t agree with the current board’s motion to create a policy that would delegitimize mature minors in HSD schools. Lavin was glad the minister stepped in and made the board rescind the motion last week.

“I believe that the board should follow the law… I did not agree with it. I thought it was open to a lot of problems that kids could face. It’s not all black and white. Some of the board members have said, ‘Oh, well, parents need to be involved.’ Yes, parents do absolutely need to be involved with their kids, but it’s not 100 percent cut and dry,” he said.

“There are situations where that is just not going to work. And we have to allow for all situations.”

Lavin also does not agree with the board’s yet to be approved student activism policy, which would require all student activism to be supervised by teachers and student led activism to be approved by principals. The policy also defines activism, how it will be conducted, and what can and cannot be advocated for or against.

Lavin takes issue with teachers and principals giving permission prior to any activism in schools. He said just giving your opinion could be considered activism and he would like to see clear and concise wording in the policy.

“I believe that student activism is a good thing. Students should take an active part in their learning and how things are running. My son considers himself an activist, and I could not be more proud of him,” he said.

In regards to the responsible use of school resources policy the board passed this summer, which controls what teaching materials (books, music, films) are used in the classroom, Lavin believes that “teachers are hired with their credentials, and they are adults. They have been educated on how to teach, and they should be allowed to teach. If an issue does come up, then it can be handled on a case-by-case basis.”

Friesen told another media outlet that the policy gives teachers and principals an “avenue that will bring trust back into the classroom. And to parents, there is a process to [eliminate] material that is being used in classrooms that doesn’t fit with the culture and values of their home.”

When asked about his thoughts that parents can take their kids out of class if they don’t agree with what is being taught, including Indigenous teachings or sexual health, in regards to the policy, Lavin said, “My thoughts are parents are entitled to do what they wish with their children, but these are important things to look for. Absolutely, I am a very big proponent of education all around. The more we know, the better.”

Three weeks ago, outgoing trustee Brad Unger sent candidates seven questions asking their beliefs on gender and sexuality, student use of pronouns, the use of flags in school that are not the Canadian or Manitoba flag, race, and a parent’s role in their children’s lives. Unger intended to post on his Facebook page the candidates’ answers. While Lavin answered the questions on his Facebook page, he wondered what any of them had to do with being a trustee.

“My thoughts are it had nothing to do with school governance. Those questions had nothing to do with the role of a trustee, they’re personal beliefs. And yes, it is a political role, but politics does not belong there. The board is there to ensure the proper and good education of these students,” he said.

Lavin thinks it’s important that all children have a voice and everybody is respected.

“And that’s one thing that I don’t see too much these days is respect for everyone and that’s what I would like.”

Lavin believes people should vote for him because he’s passionate about the division as he has worked for it, his family has and currently works within it, his wife went to school in Niverville from kindergarten to high school as has his son, who is currently in Grade 12 at Niverville High School.

“I really care about (Hanover School Division) and the people,” he said.

Trustee and board chair Dallas Wiebe has not announced whether he is running again for trustee in Ward 1.