Three North Okanagan-Shuswap trustees won’t be replaced any time soon.
It was anticipated by-elections to replace Kelly Rowe, Barry Chafe and Jenn Wilchuk would be held in June after special advisor Liz Watson filed her report May 20. However, now her report won’t go to the Ministry of Education until June 3.
“We have to wait until we receive the report from the ministry,” said Alice Hucul, school district communications officer.
“We have to wait to see what she says.”
That means a firm date can’t be set for the by-elections but the lengthy procedural process for a vote means June isn’t possible.
“I can’t see us holding a by-election in the summer,” said Hucul.
“My guess is it would be in the fall if that’s what she (Watson) determines what we need to do.”
The board asked the Ministry of Education to appoint a trustee after widespread community concerns about the transfer of $10.5 million in operational surpluses to capital funding over the past five years.
It was that controversy that led to the resignations of Rowe, from Armstrong-Spallumcheen, Sicamous’ Chafe and Wilchuk, from Sorrento.
Watson was asked by the ministry to look at the district’s governance practices, board relationships with district management and external stakeholders, board accountability and evaluation mechanisms, budgeting processes and capital planning.
According to the Ministry of Education, Watson met with Education Minister Mike Bernier and she presented several draft findings.
“In this meeting, the special advisor requested an additional two weeks to finalize the report,” states the ministry.