School Trustee Questions from a Community Group

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself personally: Who are you? Why are you running? What values drive you in your aspiration to be a school board trustee?

My name is Mike Rauch, and my deepest values rest in family and community. As a father of six, married 28 years, and a parishioner at St. James, I am deeply invested in policies that create brighter futures for young people. I am running for re-election to ensure integrity, accountability, and collaborative leadership on the board. I firmly believe schools must act in true partnership with parents, equipping students with the values and skills needed to succeed.

2. What issues are you passionate about and, in your opinion, what are the greatest issues facing our public school system?

Our top priority must be protecting and enhancing core programming. In primary years, this means focusing on early learning and frontline supports. Middle schools must keep kids engaged through vibrant sports and arts. High schools must support advanced academic tracks, like AP and IB, along with robust trades and specialty programs. Our greatest challenge is securing stable provincial funding to sustain these programs, making it our primary focus for advocacy.

3. Do you support or oppose the inclusion of SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) in school anti-bullying policies, school activities, and teaching resources?

Every child deserves a safe school environment completely free from bullying. While I support strong anti-bullying policies, classroom resources must be strictly age-appropriate and respect the primary role of parents. Many families feel current SOGI 123 materials miss this mark. I support policies that ensure local resources align with community expectations, developmental appropriateness, and full transparency.

4. Should parents be notified when particularly sensitive material (e.g. sexual education or SOGI) is discussed in the classroom? Should parents be allowed to request that their children be absent from a class when such material is being discussed?

Yes. Parents must be notified before sensitive topics like sexual education or SOGI are discussed in the classroom. Topics involving puberty, human sexuality, and gender dysphoria are deeply personal. We must respect a parent’s right to decide if their child is developmentally ready for these discussions. I fully support expanding the district's "alternative delivery" policies to include SOGI, allowing parents the right to discuss this topic with their kids in a way that fits the context of their family.