Thanks and goodbye

Photo: School District 83.

Nine former trustees with the North Okanagan Shuswap School District, who were fired by the education minister last month, have been thanked for their service.

During a school board meeting presided over by the officially appointed trustee on Tuesday, district superintendent Glenn Borthistle extended personal best wishes to the former board members as they move on to other endeavours.

Borthistle also welcomed to the district the new trustee, Mike McKay, who was appointed by the education minister following the release of a special advisor's report.

McKay acknowledged to those in attendance that there have been some “difficult times” but now was the time to move forward.

He also promised no surprises.

"There will be community consultation where we will lay out all the variables and arrive at the best possible outcomes," McKay said. "Decisions will be arrived at with openness and transparency. That's my commitment."

He reminded the crowd that a big challenge lies ahead.

The last board struggled to overcome public outrage as it considered options to close a number of schools in order to meet the budget – recommendations that were put on hold and must know be considered by McKay.

As well, some parents condemned the former board members when it was discovered that millions of operating dollars had been transferred to capital projects.

McKay accepted the special advisor's report which he said would “lay out the landscape" for tackling a substantial workload in the district.

He assured those in attendance that there would be regular updates on the progress towards meeting the recommendations.

In one of his first acts, McKay reinstated a bus route serving the Ranchero area, noting that eliminating the run would have an impact on many students.

The next school board meeting takes place Sept. 13th at the district office in Salmon Arm.