School trustee candidate Sandra Nixon says Richmond should teach trades alongside core academics while using a cautious, regulated approach to AI and restricting cellphones rather than banning them.
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Sandra Nixon is seeking election as a school trustee, running under the Empower Education slate in Richmond.
In the questionnaire published with candidate information, Nixon said she previously served two consecutive terms on the Richmond school board and is running because, in her view, students need “safe, welcoming, equitable and well-resourced schools.” She identified her profession as an ordained minister with the United Church of Canada.
Nixon said she would take a student-centred approach and described trustees’ role as guiding and governing the public school system in consultation with the community to support young people and prepare them for the future.
On yes-or-no questions, Nixon said schools should not teach more basics such as reading and math, and she said she believes the Richmond School District is already a leader in teaching reading and math. She also said graduates have a higher-than-average rate of successful transition into post-secondary education, and she referenced teacher consultants, a K–7 mathematics framework, and outcomes tied to graduation numeracy.
Nixon said she supports more trades training and she said there should be enough focus on social issues in the curriculum by answering “No” to the question about increasing attention to social issues.
She also said school districts should be allowed to set school tax rates, and she supported teaching drug awareness in high school.
Nixon said students should have more outdoor education opportunities, and she would make elementary track meets more inclusive.
On technology questions, Nixon said she does not support banning artificial intelligence in schools. She said she supports a two-year pause on the use of AI chatbots in classrooms and advocates a cautious and regulated approach overall, alongside additional research and policy guardrails developed with input from teachers and other partner groups.
She said she does not support banning cellphones in Richmond schools, adding that she favours restrictions rather than a blanket ban. Nixon said she agrees with the provincial policy framework that requires districts to restrict student use of personal digital devices on school grounds, accounting for factors such as age, developmental stage, medical and health needs, accessibility and inclusion. She also said teacher autonomy should be respected in decisions about cellphone use during class time for specific instructional purposes.
Nixon said teachers are not adequately paid and she would support adding more educational support workers in schools. She also said she supports SOGI policies in Richmond schools.
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