Jason Sandquist is taking over as secretary-treasurer of the Cowichan Valley school district on Nov. 1.
He replaces Bob Harper who is retiring from that position.
Board chair Candace Spilsbury took time at the Sept. 1 board meeting to praise Harper’s leadership.
“You have been one of our rocks,” she told him on behalf of trustees. “We appreciate all of your help and advice. We kind of wish you were still staying with us but we know we have to let you go,” she said.
A round of applause greeted Spilsbury’s announcement of Sandquist.
“I think that reaction will be sustained throughout the district,” she said.
Sandquist spoke briefly, thanking the board for the opportunity and then thanked Harper for “an incredible period of mentorship.”
Harper joined the district in March 2009, after a long career in the local government field.
After a steep learning curve in “eduspeak” he established himself in the district but is now, he says, “looking forward to a change of pace”.
He is leaving at the end of October and says he will miss the people he has worked with for six and a half years.
