Get on board, ministers urge potential school trustees

Tom Hedderson, Minister of Education, and Joan Burke, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, are urging people to put their name forward by this Thursday, September 1 to become a nominee for school board elections. They believe that school boards present a fantastic opportunity for local input into decisions that impact the province�s youth. To be on the ballot during the September 27 elections, interested adults need only submit nomination papers with the signatures of two qualified electors by Thursday�s deadline.

�School boards present a great opportunity for people to shape their community and to support our young minds of the future,� said Minister Hedderson. �We know that the demographics of our province are changing. School boards are going to continue to be counted on to organize our education system in a manner that is in the best programming interests of students.�

Minister Burke feels that school boards present an excellent opportunity for women in particular to get involved in public decision-making.

�Seminars encouraging women to consider running for municipal politics were held recently across the province and were extremely successful,� said Minister Burke. �They showed that women are very interested in having their voices heard. School boards are another great way for women to have a say in the choices that face our communities.�

The Labrador (District 1), Western (District 2), Nova Central (District 3), Eastern (District 4) and the Conseil Scolaire Francophone (District 5) school boards regularly make decisions concerning the schools in their area. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador works with these five boards to make progress in the quality of education delivery, to ensure that decisions reflect regional viewpoints, and to ultimately build a stronger education system.

More information about the school board nominations is available online at www.voteschoolboards.nl.ca or by phoning (709) 722-7171.

Media contact:

Alex Marland, Education, (709) 729-0048, 690-6047
Jacquelyn Howard, Women�s Policy Office, (709) 729-4062, 689-2624
Caron Hawco, Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards Association, (709) 738-5262

2005 08 30                                       10:05 a.m.