Inuvik (May 12/03) - Being a school board trustee can be challenging, but Sue Clarkson's involvement in her children's education is very important to her.

Clarkson, a mother of three and diabetes co-ordinator for the Beaufort Delta region, was one of seven Inuvik District Education Authority trustees elected last November.

With two of her children in the school system, she decided it would be beneficial to have a say in their educational upbringing.

"I was looking to bring a health perspective into the school, to bring about awareness of healthy lifestyles, healthy eating and promoting children's health which promotes their successes in school.

"Being at the table where you can make decisions, it's a lot easier than complaining if something isn't in place," she said.

And she has already had some success. Since her term began, all school board trustees unanimously decided to make all schools in town "junk food-free."

You don't need a degree in education to become a school board trustee.

All you have to do is put your name forward and let the voters decide.

Terms run for two years and this time around all of the trustees are new on the education scene. All bring with them different personal and professional backgrounds, making discussions both well-balanced and demanding at times.

"It's certainly a challenge bringing together seven different individuals who are trying to work towards common goals ... but everybody is quite keen and quite eager to try and better the schools," she said.

Clarkson encourages other parents to get involved in education and even consider running for a school board trustee position in two years.

"I think the more time parents participate in their children's education that the return is endless.

"The more that parents can get involved in, even coming to DEA meetings and talking to people or if they want to run, I think that just brings another perspective to the school and the students and the community will be better," she said.