Lee-Ann Tiede has been re-elected for a one year term as chair of the Central Okanagan Board of Education.
Tiede, who faced a nomination challenge from trustee Wayne Broughton, was re-appointed to the position in a secret ballot among the school trustees held Wednesday (Nov. 8) at the board of education annual general meeting.
Trustee Julia Fraser was also re-elected as board of education vice-chair, overcoming a nomination challenge from trustee Valene Johnson.
Prior to the vote, Tiede cited some of the accomplishments of the board over the past 12 months and how the relationships she has formed with the trustees despite there being differences of opinion on some issues.
She said the task of the board of education is to work through those differences, both on the board and among community residents to seek out solutions that serve the best interests of students, the quality of their education and support for school district staff.
鈥淚 look forward to continuing to build those relationships,鈥� Tiede said.
Broughton said he had an opportunity to think about the board of education moving forward after being approached to run as a candidate for chair.
From that his thoughts centred around streamlining the board meetings, and giving ample opportunity for trustees and the public to speak on resolutions recommended by board committees.
鈥淚 think there is an idea that all trustees attend all committee meetings but that is not the case, so sometimes the board meeting is the first chance for trustees to sometimes speak directly to resolutions that come forward,鈥� he said.
Broughton also cited the need for the board to stand up publicly against misinformation of what students are learning and what they are being taught.
He said the negative rhetoric about the SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) program provided in schools, attacks on trans students, false accusations and harassment of staff, and escalating vandalism, citing the rainbow crosswalk vandalism outside the school district administration building last week, feeds it the misinformation narrative fed through social media channels.
鈥淚 wish I didn鈥檛 have to talk about it鈥ut I feel the school board should take a stronger public stance than it has in the past in response to these things,鈥� Broughton said.
He also talked about finding ways to increase the opportunity for greater parent access and awareness of what their kids are being taught in the classroom.
The annual general meeting also saw the appointment of trustees to chair various board of education committees.
The committee chairpersons elected were:
鈥� Education and Student Services - Lisa Guderyan
鈥� Finance and Audit - Wayne Broughton
鈥� Planning and Facilities - Julie Fraser
鈥� Policy - Amy Geistlinger
Fraser was also elected as the BC School Trustees Association Provincial Council rep for the school district, while Broughton will serve as the school board rep on the BC Public School Employers鈥� Association Representative Council.
