NLIS 2
April 23, 2004
(Education )
 
Minister announces school board transitional committees

Education Minister John Ottenheimer, today announced government is moving forward with plans and for school board consolidation, with the co-operation of existing school boards. The minister announced the names of chairs and members of school board transitional committees, most of whom serve on existing boards.

The minister also recognized the invaluable contribution made by volunteer board trustees who offer themselves to serve on school boards. "It is a donation of time and energy made by community-minded individuals who have the genuine best interest of our children at heart.

While it is not possible for all trustees to be members of the transitional committees their contribution is sincerely appreciated," he said. "I encourage all trustees on the existing boards to maintain their important role as we move through this transitional phase. The current school board members will be key players in ensuring a smooth merger of the administrative structures for new districts."

Transitional committees for each of the three new boards, Eastern, Central, and Western, are temporary and will only remain in place until September 2004 at which time they will become the new interim school boards. There will not be any change in existing board structure for the Labrador or Conseil Scolaire (francophone) school board. School board elections are scheduled for September 2005.

Government is aware that there may be some concerns associated with an administrative reorganization and will work with existing school boards and transitional committees to ensure the changes are undertaken to minimize the impact on students. Minister Ottenheimer said: "Unlike the education reform of 1996, this consolidation is actually a merger of boards and will not involve any reconfiguration of schools. It is an administrative measure that should not have any measurable impact at the classroom level."

School board administration currently costs more than $17.3 million annually - the largest annual educational expenditure other than teachers' salaries. School board district consolidation will save approximately $6 million annually.

The location of headquarters for the new districts will be announced in the near future.

Media contact: Lynn Salter, Communications, (709) 729-0048

BACKGROUNDER
Nada Borden, Chair
Western Transition Committee
Nada Borden has had a long career in the educational field having joined the staff of the College of the North Atlantic in 1973. She is a graduate of Memorial University, having obtained a bachelor of vocation education in 1977. Nada is a member of the Certified General Accountants' Association, receiving her CGA designation in 1991 and was the recipient of the Vic Batstone Award for the highest overall average in her graduating class.

Nada has served on numerous boards and committees within the college and was a member of the curriculum consultant team that traveled to Qatar in 2001 to assess the needs for the new campus being established in that country. She has also received awards and distinction for her work in developing course material and for facilitating the delivery of on-line distance education.

She has been an active volunteer in the community having served on the board of Junior Achievement, Western Newfoundland for six years, as president of the board for two years, and on the provincial board of Junior Achievement for two years, a member of the Corner Brook Rotary Club, served on the Board of the Newfoundland Association of Certified General Accountants, volunteers with the Cancer Society, and is currently a member of the board of the Blomidon Country Club.

Nada is married to Bruce Borden of Corner Brook, a retired teacher who worked as an administrator in the Corner Brook education system. They have three children and one grandson.

Chief Misel Joe, Chair
Central Transition Committee
Chief Misel Joe comes from a long line of saqamaws or chiefs in the Mi'kmaq territory. Chief Joe was educated in Mi'kmaq traditions and, after having left the reserve as a young man, he returned in 1973 and became involved in band government politics, first as a councillor and after the death of his uncle, Chief William Joe, he became traditional saqamaw and the Newfoundland district chief for the Mi'kmaq Grand Council.

Chief Joe is also the spiritual leader of his people and has presented lectures on native medicines and traditional healing practices at several international alternative medicine conferences and hosted the1996 and 2000 International Healing Conference at Conne River.

He is a member of the Atlantic Policy Congress, the First Nations Trust Fund, Newfoundland Museum Advisory Committee and the Aboriginal Capacity and Development Research Centre. He also holds a community seat at the United Nations (Human Rights).

Chief Joe will receive an honourary doctor of laws degree at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College session of convocation to be held on Friday, May 7.

E. Bruce Peckford, Chair
Eastern Transition Committee
E. Bruce Peckford, retired in 1996 after 35 years as a provincial public employee. His service included the positions of deputy minister of Social Services, deputy minister of Works, Services and Transportation, assistant secretary Treasury Board Secretariat, and executive director (Finance and Administration) Workers' Compensation Commission.

He is an active volunteer and is currently a member and past chair of the Prostate Cancer Support Group, a board member with the Canadian Cancer Society-Newfoundland and Labrador Division, board member of the Newfoundland Historic Sites Association, lay panel member 2001/2002 with the National Cancer Institute, and member of the Prostate Cancer Research Initiative Management Committee.

He has previously been actively involved with the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information, Independent Living Resource Centre and Newfoundland and Labrador Computer Services.

Transitional Committee Members
Eastern School District
  • Bruce Peckford (Chair)
  • Cyril Hayden
  • Mel Hong
  • Joan Marie Gatherall
  • Ron Ellsworth
  • Angus Gilbert
  • Brendan White
  • Dr. Jim Hearn
  • Danny Button(c)
  • Violet Parsons (c)
  • Rick Martin
  • Earl Elliott
  • Joseph Keating (c)
Central School District
  • Chief Misel Joe (Chair)
  • William Sceviour (c)
  • Scott Pritchett
  • Gerald Hounsell
  • Terry Brown (c)
  • Clarence Brown
  • Randy Edison
  • Gregory Roberts
  • Carolyn Andrews
  • Lisa Wheeler
Western School District
  • Nada Borden (Chair)
  • Brian Foley
  • John Dollimount (c)
  • Paul Wilson
  • Wilson Loveys
  • Katie Healey
  • June Alteen (c)
  • Don Brown (c)
  • Dennis Normore
  • Travis Gillard
(c) denotes chair of a current school board

2004 04 23       2:55 p.m.


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