CANDIDATE PROFILE: James Blenkhorn

I am running for the board of education because I believe our community deserves a fresh perspective and a strong parent voice. I am not running because I claim to have every answer; I am running because I have the financial literacy to provide real oversight, the willingness to listen to our community, and the commitment to be fully accountable for every decision made.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing SD73 and how would you use your elected position to address it?

The single biggest issue facing SD73 is rebuilding trust through structural accountability. The district has faced public scrutiny over past administrative instability and significant financial volatility, notably the ripple effects of the 2024 accounting error. While the district’s balance sheet has stabilized recently, the lesson remains clear: we cannot afford complacency. As a trustee, I will use my financial background to ensure proactive, rigorous oversight before budgets are finalized, not after errors occur. Rebuilding trust means moving away from a culture of complacency and ensuring that every dollar spent is directed where it matters most. Responsible management is not just about cutting or spending; it is about strategic allocation to ensure our frontline educational resources are fully protected.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing students and how would you address it?

The core challenge facing our students is ensuring they have consistent, uninterrupted access to the foundational supports they need to succeed. When financial oversight falters, students pay the price. We have seen past budget strains directly impact the classroom through reductions in critical support staff, including Certified Education Assistants, Library Assistants, and Science Assistants. When these frontline roles are reduced, our teachers are stretched even thinner, and our most vulnerable students lose the vital early interventions they need. To address this, I will advocate for a budget priority model focused entirely on students. Before a single dollar is adjusted, we must ask how this impacts the daily classroom experience. My goal is to safeguard classroom resources, expand mental health and learning assistance, and ensure no student has to reach a crisis point in order to receive support.

What are your thoughts on communication between SD73, its schools and the region’s residents? As a trustee, would you speak to your votes and decisions on the record?

I believe there is a clear opportunity to improve communication and transparency between the school board and our community. Taxpayers, parents, and staff deserve an unobstructed, clear view of how decisions are made. Families should never have to hunt through dense meeting minutes or wait for rumors to understand policies that affect their children. If elected, I will absolutely speak to my votes and decisions on the record. If I support a motion, I will publicly explain the data and rationale behind it. If I oppose a motion, I will clearly state my objections. If a strategy fails to deliver, I will openly own the mistake. Of course, there are times when legal or private personnel matters have to stay confidential, and I will respect that. However, when a decision is public, I want the community to know exactly why it happened. To me, being a trustee means being easy to talk to, being visible, and being completely honest with the people who voted for you.

Following a term highlighted by allegations of bullying and harassment by its former superintendent and a $2.2 million budget shortfall, how would you use your position to bring stability to the school district?

I believe that true stability comes from clear leadership, working together respectfully, and keeping a very close eye on the budget. While we must respect the boundaries of past personnel processes, the broader takeaway is that our school district thrives when leadership is transparent and collaborative. We do not need further division or loud adversarial voices. We need a balanced, cooperative team approach on the board. I will bring stability by ensuring the board rigorously executes its oversight role, without micromanaging day to day operations. I will advocate for clear, frequent financial reporting, so trustees and the public are never left in the dark about the district’s true fiscal health. By fostering an environment where trustees can disagree productively, ask difficult questions respectfully, and ultimately unite behind student focused solutions, I believe we can restore long term stability to SD73.

Why should residents give you their vote?

Residents should vote for me because I offer a practical, highly relevant skill set for this exact moment in SD73’s history: a parent’s perspective, a financier’s eye for detail, and an absolute commitment to transparency.

I am not going to make empty political promises to fix everything overnight, because that just is not realistic. What I can promise is a strong work ethic. I will bring a fresh voice to a board that really needs a new perspective. I will use my background to protect your tax dollars, stand up for our educators, and protect the classroom resources, like our Certified Education Assistants, that keep our schools running well. At the end of the day, parents need a voice they can trust to speak on their behalf, taxpayers need to know their money is being handled properly, and students simply need to be our number one priority. I am asking for your vote so I can bring that common sense balance to the table.

by CFJC Today

CANDIDATE PROFILE: James Blenkhorn

Our Community