The board for School District No. 48 got quite a shake-up in last week’s civic elections.
The chairperson, Doug Hackett, who represented Area D (Furry Creek, Britannia Beach, Ring Creek, Squamish Valley, Paradise Valley, Pinecrest Estates and Black Tusk Village) lost his seat to former Squamish councillor Lyle Fenton.
Hackett, who was first elected in 2002 for Area D, was elected chair of the Howe Sound School Board in 2004.
Fenton served on council from 1996 to 1999.
Only 78 people voted for the Area D trustee, with Fenton receiving 49 votes.
In Whistler, Andree Janyk and Chris Vernon-Jarvis were acclaimed as the only two candidates running. This is Vernon-Jarvis’ first term on the school board. He replaces Don Brett who retired from the position after serving one three-year term.
This is Janyk’s third term as school trustee, having first been elected in 1996.
Pemberton also has a new trustee in Dave Walden, a retired vice-principal and music teacher.
Former Pemberton trustee Mike Milner now represents Area C, taking over from Judy Bourhis who announced her retirement before the elections. Milner was acclaimed.
In Squamish the new trustees are Andrea Beaubien and Rick Price. They replace Amy Shoup and Constance Rulka, both of whom announced their retirements earlier.
Janyk, as the senior serving trustee, said she hopes the new board members will embrace the work the former board has done.
"One of the things that started with the previous board was the aligning of goals between board districts and schools so we are all focused on student achievement, and social responsibility," she said. "I don’t see that changing. That is something that is a direction that has been taken and is showing that we are improving student achievement.
"I certainly hope the new board continues to work to support the work the former board did and worked very hard for in this area."
A new chair of the board will be chosen in December.
Janyk believes the board needs to continue to focus on finding ways for all students to achieve and that includes continuing to support the trades and apprenticeship programs in Pemberton and Squamish schools and the Flex Ed program at Whistler Secondary.
She would also like to see a numeracy and mathematics support program put in place not unlike the Literacy program now underway at Myrtle Philip to help all students meet and exceed expectations.
"I also think the focus on social responsibility is most important," said Janyk.
"Current results worldwide shows B.C. is doing very well, so we have to be encouraged by that but we have to ensure that we are meeting every student’s needs and that I think is important."
