NLIS 3
May 10, 2001
(Education) 

The following statement was issued today by Judy Foote, Minister of Education. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

School board elections

I rise today to inform my honourable colleagues that a general election for school boards will be held September 25, 2001.

This will be the second general election of school board trustees since education reform. The first general election was held in February of 1998. School board elections will be held on the same day as municipal elections. Trustees elected at that time will hold office for a four-year term.

There are 10 regional school boards and one francophone board, the Conseil Scolaire Francophone, in the province. There will be 15 trustees elected to regional boards in a general election. Trustees to the conseil scolaire are elected by individual school councils.

I commend the work of the trustees elected in the last general election who embraced the challenge of guiding the 10 new school boards for the first years following education reform. During the term of the first fully-elected school boards, these trustees took on many challenges, not the least of which was consolidating schools and school populations. We are deeply indebted to them for their monumental efforts in the initial years of our new school system. The students in our schools were well served by these dedicated people and as a result of their hard work and vision, these students are able to avail of improved educational programs and services.

On behalf of government, I thank all those trustees who have given freely of their time and talents to serve the interests of education.

There can be no better way for a person to volunteer services than in the interest of children, in particular in the interests of children in our schools. Therefore, I encourage people throughout the province to consider offering themselves for election to one of the 150 positions to be filled on September 25. There will continue to be many opportunities for our school boards as they work with all education stakeholders to improve the high levels of education in this province.

As our student population continues to decline, we must find innovative ways to ensure our children are provided access to the educational programs and services they require to meet the challenges they will face throughout their lives. Students in our schools today will live and work in a global economy. They will compete with students from all over the world for employment. Therefore we need school trustees with a vision for the future which will prepare our children to be the best in the world. Serving children can be one of the most gratifying tasks a person can undertake.

I encourage those who want to make a difference in the education of children in their area to offer themselves for election to their school board in September.

2001 05 10                                                      2:20 p.m.