This is not an arbitrary promise or far-fetched idea – it is a location, a plan, and a vision for the new Carville Secondary School.

At the corner of Major Mackenzie Drive and Thomas Cook Avenue, north of Valley Vista Drive and across from the new Carville Community Centre, the York Region District School Board designates the land as the site of a future secondary school.

As trustee, I will work to build the new Carville Secondary School.

Stephen Lewis Secondary School is a great school, but with the growth taking place in our community, it simply will not suffice.

No longer will students who live in the Carville neighbourhood have to commute far to get to school – they will have a high school within walking distance of their house.

This is my vision. This is my plan.

Join me as we build the NEW Carville Secondary School.

Our community is growing. Our schools need to grow with it.

Parents and guardians who pay for public schools expect their hard-earned money to go directly where it belongs—the classroom. Putting more resources back in the classroom is my pledge, my belief, and my promise to every taxpayer here in Thornhill.

For years, taxpayers’ money was spent carelessly and away from core education. I will put an end to that culture, and put more resources back in the classroom.

That means looking at every dollar, every department, and every program, and asking one simple question: is this money ultimately helping students learn?

On day 1, I will put a motion for the board to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of Antisemitism, which both the Government of Ontario, and the Government of Canada have already done so.

It was shameful that the board of trustees voted this down in 2022, and I will correct that historical mistake.

Antisemitism has no place in our schools.

Students and staff should be able to learn and work in an environment free from hatred and discrimination.

Adopting the IHRA definition would provide the board with a clear and internationally recognized framework for identifying and addressing antisemitism.

We must call antisemitism what it is, confront it when it happens, and ensure that Jewish students, teachers and families know that their school board will stand with them.

With artificial intelligence transforming the economy and increasingly automating routine work, hands-on skills, trades, and real-world experience will become even more valuable.

I will advocate for expanding co-op and apprenticeship opportunities, giving students more opportunities to gain practical experience, connect with employers, and explore careers before graduation.

University is not the only path to success. Skilled trades, entrepreneurship, college, and direct entry into the workforce are all valuable pathways.

Students should graduate with skills and experience—not just a diploma.

Canada is made of a diverse group of great people who chose to call it home – myself included, as a naturalized Canadian citizen. Regardless of our differences we all share the same love for freedom and democracy – that is what unites us all.

What many parents and guardians feel is that too often, instead of focusing on what unites us all as Canadians, the school board allows room for division to triumph. 

To each their own – we should talk less about what divides us, and a lot more about how we can come together and unite as proud Canadians.

Our schools should be places where students learn about our differences, while also understanding deeply what we share.

We should celebrate the Canadian story, our institutions, our freedoms, and the responsibilities that come with being a citizen of this country.

Students' mental health is part of what getting back to basics means. As Trustee, I will ensure that the school board is equipping school staff with the appropriate resources in order to assist students when needed – providing parents, guardians and students a helping hand.

We need to make sure that students have access to appropriate supports, while appropriately keeping parents and guardians informed and involved.

Our school board is blessed with so many incredible educators, administrators, support staff, and a professional crew of custodians.

This platform is about making sure that the system supports the people who actually educate and serve our students.

In the past several years, parents and guardians have seen the primary focus of the school board drift away from education. Sadly, as I have heard from one parent at the doors, George, that he: “Suddenly realized that my child is being taught political beliefs contrary to my education, while not even learning the very basics of math, science, and English. I came to the conclusion that although my taxes fund his school, I frankly am better off paying extra to send him to a private school”.

That is tragic. That is unacceptable.

But that is also unfortunately causing another major issue – the funding that each school board receives from the Ministry of Education is rightly and primarily based on enrollment.

The issue cycle is simple: decreased education = decreased enrollment = decreased funding = decreased staff.

The solution is just as simple: Back to basics = increased enrollment = increased funding = increased staff.

We need to make our public schools places where parents and guardians want to send their children, where students want to learn, and where teachers want to teach.

I will work to improve traffic safety around schools by collaborating with the City of Vaughan and work with school property staff to enhance safety on school property, such as parking lots, which are prone to dangerous activities such as car racing.

Our students should be able to get to and from school safely.

That means working with the City, police, transportation staff, school administrators, parents, and guardians to identify dangerous areas and practical solutions.

As part of my broader commitment to reorient the school board’s priorities, I will place the fight against bullying at the top of our list of areas to improve on.

Bullying should never be dismissed as “just kids being kids.” Students deserve to feel safe, respected, and protected at school.

We need clear consequences, timely intervention, and accountability when bullying occurs.

This is public money. Parents and guardians must be able to hold the board accountable for how the budget is spent.

Every taxpayer dollar should be treated with respect.

I will push for greater transparency around administrative spending, program costs, and board fiscal priorities.

We should always be asking whether money can be redirected into the classroom.

Artificial intelligence is here, and our schools should prepare students for the world they will actually enter.

Students should learn how to use AI responsibly and productively, while understanding academic integrity, fact-checking, privacy, and the importance of doing their own thinking.

School should be more than classrooms and exams.

Fun fairs, spirit days, extracurriculars, clubs, and community events help students build friendships, memories, and a stronger connection to their school.

Parents and guardians deserve timely responses from the school board.

When a parent contacts the board, a school, or a trustee with a legitimate concern, they should not feel like their message disappears into a black hole.

As Trustee, I will advocate for clear service standards and accountability for timely communication with families.

Students should have access to affordable and nutritious food at school.

Where the board has influence, we should work with schools and cafeteria operators to increase options and keep prices reasonable.

We need to prepare students for the jobs of the future. That means more technology in schools is a must.

Technology should be a tool for education, not a substitute for education.

Students need access to the equipment and digital skills necessary to compete in an increasingly technological economy, and I will work to deliver these.

Athletics teaches discipline, teamwork, leadership, resilience, and commitment.

We should support students who want to compete at a high level while making sure that school sports remain accessible to as many students as possible.