Bungon joins school trustee race with focus on safety

Hosteen Bungon is running for a seat on the Brandon School Division board of trustees.

Bungon, who works as a supervisor at Canada Packers, said his decision to seek a trustee position was motivated by a desire to contribute to addressing challenges facing the school division.

“One thing that made me jump into this ship to contest for this position is the fact that I have learnt one principle over time — when you see a problem, instead of complaining, try to put yourself in a position where you’ll be able to solve the problem,” Bungon, who is also the United Nigerians in Brandon Association president, told the Sun.

A key issue he plans to focus on if elected is school safety.

“Schools should be places where students can concentrate on learning without fear for their safety,” he said.

“Child safety is something that is so, so important and we’ll try to see how we can make the school a safe place for every child, no matter your background, no matter your skin colour, your nationality.”

He also identified bullying and the need to ensure that students from different backgrounds feel safe and welcome as areas requiring attention.

Bungon also wants to see improvements to programs designed to support students, including school food programs.

He said some students leave school during lunch to return home, which he believes can create safety concerns and affect their ability to learn when they return.

“Some of them, what happens is when they are having their lunch break, they have to walk back home, which is a security risk for them, no matter the distance,” he said.

Bungon said students who walk home and return to school can also become tired and have difficulty concentrating in afternoon classes.

“A stronger school feeding program could benefit both students and families, particularly parents who may be struggling to provide meals during the school day,” he said.

“If a kid is fed well, they will have a sound mind and will be able to learn better.”

While acknowledging that funding remains a significant challenge for school divisions, Bungon said the board should explore additional ways of mobilizing resources within the community.

Bungon said the division could work with parents, including parent-teacher associations, and engage community members who may be willing to provide support.

“I think we’ll have to sit and look at that aspect critically, to be able to see how we’ll be able to persuade individuals that have resources, and let them see the need to support,” he said.

Bungon said funding education is complex and that the provincial government has its own financial pressures, but there are opportunities to find solutions by engaging the right people.

His campaign will also focus on reviewing existing programs and identifying areas where they can be improved.

“I want to be able to help in solving the problem that the school division is facing here in Brandon,” he said.

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