TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE: Longtime Langley school trustee announces a run

One of the longest serving Langley School District trustees will go for another term.

Rod Ross has announced a run in the Nov. 15 election for one of the Township seats.

He was a trustee 1990 to 1996 and was re-elected in 1999, holding a seat since then.

“We must ensure that every student is successful... our society cannot afford to to lose even one. It may seem quaint... but I do believe... we can do great things together,” he added.

Ross was on the district through some of its worst times, such as school closings and the discovery of a $13.5 million debt which had to be repaid, and wants to continue working as a trustee.

“The board is functioning well,” he said. “The district is healthy financially, its leadership is passionate and committed to excellence and it has a new vision to be an ‘innovative, inspiring and unified learning community’.”

He said a key reason for his run is the need for new schools.

“This is of paramount concern for us and one that will command much of the new Board’s attention,” Ross said.

He said the district needs to be more innovative to achieve its goals.

“The current paradigm of the government funding our every building need must be challenged,” he said.

Ross added that he thinks schools have appropriate emergency protocols but not “the Big One”.