Behind the Scenes
Should I still be campaigning? Apparently, I should be. I feel so fortunate to be elected by residents of the District of Sechelt to represent them as school trustee on the Board of Education of School District No. 46 (Sunshine Coast). It’s been 2 weeks since the 2011 civic election and I am still being approached by many Sunshine Coast residents who share their enthusiasm and gratitude that I was elected for this position. Many shared with me that they would have voted for me if they had lived in the Sechelt area. That means a lot to me. It says to me that people on the Sunshine Coast want someone on the Board who has experience, knowledge, and expertise in public education. For a ‘newbie’ trustee candidate to obtain the most votes overall is a clear message sent by the community.
What’s happening now? Trustee elections are being held on Tuesday, December 6, 2011. This is known as the inaugural school board meeting. This meeting is initially chaired by the Secretary-Treasurer. The Secretary-Treasurer will announce the results of trustees election, confirm that all trustees completed the declaration and taken the oath of office as required by the School Act. Afterwards, the Secretary-Treasurer calls for nominations for Board Chair. If necessary, there is a vote by ballot. The nominee with a clear majority will assume the role as Board Chair and takes over the meeting from then on. Elections for vice-chair, BCPSEA rep, and BCSTA rep will be conducted in the same manner. Our first ‘official’ Board Meeting is held on Tuesday, December 13, 2011.
Trustees on each Board of Education around the province of BC are seeking election amongst their Board for these positions. From what I understand, trustees connect with other trustees to secure nominations and support. Some Boards of Education traditionally nominate and elect the trustee with the most votes from the civic election to be the Board Chair. I am not quite sure what happens on the Board of Education SD46. I am not behind the scenes. I have not been campaigning.
How does a person, like myself, learn more about being a school trustee? I guess it’s to get involved in opportunities presented, meet influential and informative people, and learn as much as I can so that I can effectively advocate for student learning as one voice on the SD46 Board of Education.