Richard Laliberte is one of several new board members. (submitted photo/Darcy Ahenakew)

By Derek Cornet

new board

NLSD board members undergoing orientation

Dec 14, 2020 | 1:27 PM

Eight out of nine board members with the Northern Lights School Division are new to their roles and are currently going through orientation.

In the board election last month, the only member to keep their seat was Joey McCallum in Subdivision 6. McCallum was one of several members to win by acclimation with the others being Chairperson Richard Laliberte in Subdivision 3, Sandra Hansen in Subdivision 5, Morris Cook in Subdivision 7 and Richard Thommes in Subdivision 9.

The remaining board members are Bernice Park Campbell in Subdivision 1, Richard Petit in Subdivision 2, Rose Richardson in Subdivision 4 and Marina Dumas in Subdivision 8.

“There’s been a lot of changes in policy within the school boards,” Laliberte said. “Rose and I have previous experience as trustees on the school board, but the changes are night and day. A lot of changes have happened that we need to gain traction on to see where we are sitting and where we need to go with the strategies of the school board.”

Laliberte explained the most pressing matter facing the new board is the current coronavirus pandemic and the impact its having on students. He said the typical educational path for youth has been turned upside down and in future years there will need to be supplemental programs in place to fill the gaps created this year.

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“The silver lining might be the online training we are heavily reliant on and improving that type of service might strengthen the future educational opportunities for our kids,” Laliberte said.

In the coming years, Laliberte expects the board will need to plan for large projects. He mentioned planning will need to done for a new school that’s been approved for La Loche, as well as other new facilities for Pinehouse Lake and Sandy Bay.

“In planning for these assets, we have to engage the community and that’s what we are looking at is for the school board to be engaged with parents and families,” Laliberte said.

He also wanted to remind the public board meetings are open to the public and northerners should be feel free to bring any concerns they have about education to the board.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno