All trustee races

Public school trustee: Wards 7, 8, 9 and 10

Simcoe County District School Board, representing Barrie wards 7, 8, 9 and 10. You vote in this race only if you are a supporter of this school board.

5 certified candidates, listed alphabetically by last name.

Candidates

Kevin Berry

Background
Moved to Simcoe County 23 years ago. Autism Ontario representative on the SCDSB special education advisory committee for about 15 years, including a decade as chair; volunteer advocate for students with special education needs and their families. Special Olympics coach.
Other stated priorities
No stated priorities found.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact
Profile sources: City of Barrie [S001]; BarrieToday [S179]

Sean Fitzgerald

Background
Longtime Allandale resident; parent of two. Bachelor of arts from the University of Toronto; certified health and safety professional who advocates for workers. His campaign site says he is endorsed by OSSTF District 17.
Other stated priorities
No stated priorities found.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact
Profile sources: City of Barrie [S001]; BarrieToday [S180]; Campaign [S191]

Denise Ketching

Background
Barrie resident since 2000. Wedding officiant, funeral celebrant and professional painter and decorator; foster parent. Says she has no prior experience in education.
Other stated priorities
No stated priorities found.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact
Profile sources: City of Barrie [S001]; BarrieToday [S181]

Darren Steeves

No public statements found. We found no candidate profile, campaign website or news coverage quoting this candidate, so they are not shown in the comparison below. Contact them directly to ask about their positions.

Background
No information found.
Other stated priorities
No stated priorities found.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact
Profile source: City of Barrie [S001]

Chaudhry Farooq Haider Virk

No public statements found. We found no candidate profile, campaign website or news coverage quoting this candidate, so they are not shown in the comparison below. Contact them directly to ask about their positions.

Background
No information found.
Other stated priorities
No stated priorities found.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact
Profile source: City of Barrie [S001]

Compare positions

Each issue lists every candidate in the same alphabetical order.

Not shown: Darren Steeves, Chaudhry Farooq Haider Virk (no public statements found).

School funding and budgets

Kevin Berry
No stated position found.
Sean Fitzgerald
Get the most from every tax dollar through transparent budgets open to community input.
Source: Campaign [S191]
Denise Ketching
Treat every education dollar as an investment in students.
Source: BarrieToday [S181]

School capacity and new schools

Kevin Berry
No stated position found.
Sean Fitzgerald
No stated position found.
Denise Ketching
No stated position found.

Special education and student supports

Kevin Berry
Wants to bring his special education advocacy experience to the trustee role; says he has helped hundreds of families navigate the school system.
Source: BarrieToday [S179]
Sean Fitzgerald
No stated position found.
Denise Ketching
Earlier identification and support for students who need help, including those with learning differences and vulnerable children.
Source: BarrieToday [S181]

Student safety and mental health

Kevin Berry
No stated position found.
Sean Fitzgerald
Secure, welcoming schools, enforceable anti-bullying policies and strong mental health supports.
Source: Campaign [S191]
Denise Ketching
Make student mental health a priority; take bullying, violence, drugs, vaping and harassment seriously.
Source: BarrieToday [S181]

Busing and transportation

Kevin Berry
No stated position found.
Sean Fitzgerald
No stated position found.
Denise Ketching
No stated position found.

Programs, curriculum and parents’ role

Kevin Berry
No stated position found.
Sean Fitzgerald
Says inclusion, equity and diversity make schools stronger; opposes imposing a personal ideology on the system.
Sources: BarrieToday [S180]; Campaign [S191]
Denise Ketching
Prepare students for college, university, the trades or other careers.
Source: BarrieToday [S181]

Transparency and board accountability

Kevin Berry
No stated position found.
Sean Fitzgerald
Maximum transparency, with parents, teachers and students as partners in decisions; built a website explaining the trustee role.
Sources: BarrieToday [S180]; Campaign [S191]
Denise Ketching
Listen to students, parents, teachers and education workers.
Source: BarrieToday [S181]