1. Please provide a short biography. Why have you chosen to run for trustee?
My name is Kathy Glasgo. I grew up in Empress in a family of 8 siblings. I have been a resident of Medicine Hat since 1969, with short absences for university and farming in the north for a few years, returning home in 1984. I graduated from Monsignor McCoy in 1971, I taught in MHCBE for 27 years and have been on the board for 8 years. So, my passion has always been education.
I’m a cradle Catholic and have been very involved in my faith with RCIA catechist, SSVP, lector, giving retreats and many other ministries throughout the years.
I have served two terms as a trustee. I have chosen to run once more for Medicine Hat Catholic Board of education as a Trustee. I have learned a lot in my two terms sitting on this board and look forward to learning more. My main reason to put my name forward is to be a steward in preserving publicly funded Catholic Education.
2. What are your top three priorities for your division, and how would you work to meet those needs?
With a new document “The Bishops Assurance Plan” we are moving forward in Alberta. In this document all stakeholders roles are layed out to ensure we continue with publicly funded Catholic Education. My role as trustee is to look at Catholic Education through three lenses. The constitution, Canon law and the Alberta Education Act. The constitution guarantees this, Canon Law makes sure the teachings, values and morals of the church are present and permeated throughout the curriculum and culture of the school , and the Education Act ensures all students are following everything set out there. I’m looking forward to studying this and working with the bishops, so we can assure these are all being followed.
I’m currently sitting on a provincial board that advocates on behalf of publicly funded Catholic Education, in making sure legislation doesn’t conflict with the teachings of the church. We are currently lobbying on bill 27,51, and 13.
MHCBE has been one of the highest performing districts in Alberta. Our AERR results show this as well as our growth in enrolment over the past several years. To ensure this continues we are always adding to and improving our delivery of education to Medicine Hat. I will continue to do this.
3. How would you aim to attract and retain students within your division?
By providing the best model of education. Which I feel we already do, with safe and caring schools filled with amazing teachers and support staff.
This includes initiatives like:
Adding to our collegiate programs. Where students can become job ready when they exit grade 12, or have earned credits in a post secondary program by earning dual credits.
Finding or creating more spaces for our sports academies.
Looking at expanding our summer school program.
Completing our state of the art new K-9 school, complete with a 400 seat theatre and two large gyms.
The list is endless, I like to think of MHCBE as doing extraordinary things in ordinary holy ways. When you enter a Catholic school you are walking on holy ground.
