Voters in qathet Regional District, City of Powell River and Tla’amin Nation elected three new School District 47 trustees in last week’s general election. They join incumbents Aaron Reid and Doug Skinner, the only two trustees who sought re-election.
New to the table are Russell Brewer, Jack Timothy and Dale Lawson.
Brewer chose to run for school board after three terms as a city councillor. A master carver and storyteller, Timothy was previously elected to school board in the 1990s, and Lawson, executive director of Powell River and District United Way, joins for her first term.
With a budget of $27 million, School District 47 has major influence in the region, overseeing the entire school district organization, including 2,200 students, teachers and administrators. Its budget exceeds that of City of Powell River by about $1 million.
For Brewer, part of what he’d like to see the new board achieve is increased openness and opportunities for the greater community to get involved.
“I'd like to see if we can work on increased awareness and understanding about what the school board does,” said Brewer. “That may need to start with the meetings. Is there a way to help the public and the community understand more about the school board and what the trustees are doing? Maybe that starts with more meetings that the public can attend.”
Timothy said he has seen firsthand how education can change lives and break bonds of poverty, and hopes this school board will be able to work together for more positive change going forward.
“I’d love to see unity and everybody having their voice,” he said. “All will be listened to and we can all go in the same direction. Being indigenous, indigenous issues are important to me. Not so much as a focus but a point.”
Powell River Board of School Trustees will hold its inaugural meeting and oath of office on Tuesday, November 6.
