School District 69 (Qualicum) officially swore in a new board of education at Tuesday’s inaugural meeting.
Secretary treasurer Bernice Hannam chaired the meeting, as per the School Act, and started with a summary of “what you signed up for,” she told the new trustees.
She said she was following the tradition of the previous secretary treasurer in listing that they are responsible for among other things, 140 acres, 64,600 square metres (almost 700,000 sq.ft.) of building space and 500 employees who belong to two of the “strongest unions in the province,” during tough negotiations with a net zero wage increase mandate from the government.
The trustees then nominated a chair by secret ballot.
“The only person nominated is Lynnette Kershaw,” Hannam said after counting the ballots from the four new trustees and one incumbent, former chair Eve Flynn.
Trustees then nominated Barry Kurland as vice-chair, also unanimously.
They also voted to make the chair, vice-chair, secretary treasurer and assistant secretary treasurer signing authorities for banking and appointed TD Canada Trust “banker for the board.”
Kurland asked if there was discussion about choosing TD Canada Trust, if it was set in stone, to which Hannam said they go to a tendering process every year to make sure they are getting the best service and they are currently in an agreement with TD.
Kershaw, carefully wading into her new role, said they hadn’t discussed committee and representative appointments yet, so that agenda item would be postponed to the next meeting.
