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The campaign is over, so time to take issues more seriously

"New trustee calls premier a bully." That was the headline that screamed from the paper a couple of weeks ago.

"New trustee calls premier a bully."

That was the headline that screamed from the paper a couple of weeks ago. I wasn't surprised to read it, after what I had heard through the election campaign for school trustee, but I found it a bit shocking nonetheless.

With anti-bullying day in February still fresh in our minds, it was an easy term to grab attention. Regardless, I don't think it's true.

It's a word that gets thrown around so easily these days. In many cases, it's used when people simply don't agree with another approach or point of view. It's like people saying, "You're not listening." Listening doesn't necessarily mean agreeing; it just means your opinion has been heard and considered.

This all came about because the government told school districts to cut administrations costs by $29

million for this upcoming school year and another $25 million next year. For districts such as Delta and Surrey, this will be a difficult task, as they have already found many efficiencies over the past few years and have the some of the lowest administration costs in the province. These boards have been proactive in making the budget work hard, which is what I would expect.

Instead of looking for ways to save money, many districts will blame the government for insufficient funding. We hear every day how money is being "wasted" in government, but when it comes time to eliminate the waste, the response is "we can't." It's often until you have no choice but to act that something changes, which is what the government is pushing for this time.

For years there has been pressure to be more efficient in the education system. Some have, others haven't. There's not a lot of trust going around on either side. Just look at what happened last week with the Vancouver school board. It predicted a significant funding shortfall, a proclamation made virtually every year. Yet year after year there is an operating surplus, now totaling $28 million. It's hard to convince anyone that you don't have enough when you end up with

a surplus.

But does asking for districts to be more efficient constitute bullying? I don't think so. A difference of opinion, a difference in philosophy, but not bullying.

Mike Schneider's last column was about being bullied. That was a tough story to read, and I know there are many, many others. Kids bullying other kids, adults bullying adults, bullying in the workplace - it's out there. To use the term for the premier further demeans and belittles those who are actually being bullied.

I don't agree with every decision made in Victoria. Don't get me started about the school transportation budget, I'm still fuming over that one. Instead of calling people names, I work on trying to prove my case.

That's what I expect out of my elected officials. It's great to stand up and advocate for our students, just don't compromise your credibility in the process.

The premier, in this case, is not a bully. Tough? Demanding? Seeking accountability? Yes. Unreasonable? Perhaps, but not a bully.

Say what you want during an election campaign, it doesn't really mean much. But after being elected, words do matter. Just ask anyone who has been bullied.