The only trustee who lives in a rural area is seeking a second term on school board.
Willow River resident Rhonda White, 44, said she's running again because there's still work to be done.
"I don't think that one term is enough time to really get fully involved," said White. "There's an incredible learning curve and I think I'm just really getting my teeth into things. There's lots of unfinished business."
Looking back, White said the school closure process was undoubtedly the most significant event in the last term. A similar event won't occur this coming term, she promised.
"Heavens no," White said. "We're far from that. We've done all we can in that regard and what we need to do now is fight to keep the schools that we have and work towards the future.
"I understand that we're on a decline right now as far as enrollment goes, but I can see things picking up provided we get support from the provincial government."
While she was relatively quiet about the issue during public board meetings, White said she was "very vocal" about protecting rural schools behind the scenes, "explaining to each member of the board and administration how important rural education is."
"I think it's important to support rural communities because if we don't, we're going to see a drastic decline in not just the size of the communities but in the services and business rural families provide, including agriculture," White said.
White and her family moved to Willow River, where they live on an acreage, about six years ago. She's the parent of two boys, who attend Blackburn elementary, and one girl, who goes to Prince George secondary, and works as a clerk at the Prince George courthouse.
White admitted her work schedule and distance from the city has prevented her from chairing any committees. However, she sat on the policy and governance committee for the entire three years she's been on school board and was involved in the education services committee.
White said she is also a volunteer board member for the Prince George Receiving Home Society, which is responsible for Summit House, a group home for teenagers in care.
