Steveston resident Debbie Tablotney, seeking a seat as Richmond school trustee, says she will continue pushing for integrity in governance and decisions shaped by students.
The Story
Debbie Tablotney is running for school trustee in Richmond, according to a school-trustee candidate questionnaire published online.
Tablotney lists her home neighbourhood as Steveston. She describes her profession as an insurance broker and accounting manager, and she is currently a school trustee. She also says her hobbies include biking, running, dragon boating, gardening and spending time with her two Old English Sheepdogs.
In the questionnaire, Tablotney said she was “deeply honoured” to receive a lifetime pin from the British Columbia School Trustees Association, recognizing 21 years of service. She said she wants to continue working so the Richmond School District is governed with “integrity, transparency and experience,” arguing that experience matters.
Tablotney said she has noticed “an unsettling shift in public priorities” in Richmond over the past couple of years and called for protecting and expanding progress in the school district. She said school environments should remain safe, welcoming and inclusive, while decision-making continues to prioritize education.
Tablotney also said students’ voices need to be considered in decision-making, adding that the district cannot do that without listening to students themselves.
In her yes/no answers, Tablotney said schools should teach more basics such as reading and math, and she said there should be more focus on trades training and that drug awareness should be taught in high school. She said there is not enough focus on social issues in the curriculum.
Tablotney also said students should have more outdoor education opportunities, and she supported making elementary track meets more inclusive. She said school districts should be allowed to set school tax rates and that there should be more educational support workers in schools.
On questions about modern technology and student supports, Tablotney said artificial intelligence should not be banned in schools. She said an outright ban is not viable, and argued instead for teacher professional development on practical uses of AI, student supervision during instruction, and education on potential pitfalls. She said she would support restricting AI use in elementary grades until it has been studied and vetted further.
She also said cellphones should not be banned in Richmond schools, and she said she does not believe teachers are adequately paid. Tablotney said she supports SOGI policies in Richmond schools.
Tablotney wrote that comprehensive, science-based drug education is preferable to relying on abstinence alone, saying youth risk taking requires understanding the science and consequences of substance use and related addiction. She also noted she views overdoses as the number one cause of death in youth ages 10 to 18.
← More stories