A new trustee has been appointed and the board has been replaced in the North Okanagan Shuswap.
On Wednesday, Minister of Education Mike Bernier announced that Mike McKay had been appointment as the official trustee for School District 83.
The firing of the board was recommended by special advisor Elizabeth Watson. In her report, Watson found that the board is not functioning well in a rapidly deteriorating situation, and the community has lost all confidence their abilities.
“Dismissing a board is neither pleasant nor easy, but this unusual step is required at this time so the public can have faith in the administration of education in their community,” said Mike Bernier in a news release.
“It’s also a step that ensures the school district in question fulfills its responsibilities to the community and to taxpayers.”
For one year, McKay will assume all of the duties and responsibilities typically required of a board. The province says that includes all obligations to conduct public board meetings and community consultations.
The one year appointment has the potential to be extended if need be.
The first order of business for the trustee will be to meet with senior staff and plan the next course of action.
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After three trustees abruptly resigned last April and public concerns over spending, the provincial government hired a special advisor to take a deeper look at the inner workings of the North Okanagan Shuswap school district (SD 83).
READ MORE: School officials apologize over handling of funds for new building
The public’s confidence in the board was called into question after controversy over where funds for a new office building for the school district came from, and heated debates over school closures to accommodate for budget shortfalls.
READ MORE: Government hires special advisor to review SD 83 board after 3 trustees resign
McKay is the former superintendent in Surrey, a principal at Cowichan Secondary school and superintendent of the Saanich School District. The province says he has more than 30 years of experience in public education and considers him among the top educational leaders in B.C.
Click here to view the full report on SD 83 by the special advisor.
~ With files from Megan Turcato and Lauren Pullen
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