On Saturday, October 20, 2018, seven School District 51 board trustees will be elected. Will you be one of them?
For most of us the immediate response is, “What?! Are you crazy!? Who in the world would want to be a school board trustee?
Good question, and one I am glad you asked. A few good people, that’s who. Seven to be exact.
SD51 oversees 11 public schools from Christina Lake to Big White with a student population of 1,274 (as of April 30, 2018).
Gordon Swan, who is the president* of the British Columbia School Board Trustee Association (BCSTA), writes, “Local school trustee elections allow the community an important opportunity to lead and oversee investment in public education. Trustees are hardworking community leaders who come together in the context of a board in support of student success. The work is demanding, but important and rewarding.”
School boards are unique in politics in that they co-govern with the provincial government and the Ministry of Education (MoE). The MoE sets the general direction and the board is responsible for operating school districts based on the educational aspirations of their local communities and in accordance with the general direction established by the government.
As a trustee, you will establish strategic direction and steward finances. You will be part of a team. Perhaps one of the greatest challenges for a trustee is to understand is that the board has the authority to make decisions or to take action; individual trustees in and of themselves do not have this authority.
Should you become a trustee you will:
• Participate in policymaking and strategic planning that is in the best interests of all the district’s students and these policies and decisions need to be grounded in promoting student achievement and well-being.
• Set local policy for the effective and efficient operation of schools
• Have the legal responsibility for employee relations with the terms and conditions established through legislation, board policy and through the collective bargaining processes.
• Preparing and approving the school district’s operating budgets and capital plans that align with the board’s goals and objectives.
• Hearing appeals from parents and students where a staff decision significantly affects the education, health or safety of the student.
Being able to listen and ask questions are crucial to being a trustee.
I began this article by asking the question, “Will you be one of them?” If the answer is a flat out “no,” then will you actively seek out and encourage those whom you believe would be good candidates to run?
Four years ago running as a school board trustee was not even on my radar before someone approached me, and I am thankful they did.
If you are interested in being a trustee, call the school board for more information.
Three of our current trustees will not be seeking re-election. Their commitment to our students has had an impact on student success. Thank you, Teresa Rezansoff, Cathy Riddle and David Reid.
All quotes in this article are via this link: http://bcsta.org/resources-and-services/trustee-elections-2018/