If the U.S. presidential race isn't enough election action for you on Tuesday, another election will be happening locally.
The School District 57 board of education will holding its inaugural meeting for the year, and electing a new chairperson and vice-chairperson.
Last month current chairperson, Tim Bennett, said he won't seek re-election to the position.
"After four years as chair and four years as vice, I feel like it's time to pass the baton on so to speak and serve the district as a trustee," he told the Citizen in an interview last month.
Currently Trent Derrick serves as the board's vice-chairperson.
The seven members of the board (Bennett, Derrick, Betty Bekkering, Ron Polillo, Bob Thompson, Shuirose Valimohamed and Sharel Warrington) are elected by voters to serve as trustees. The members of the board nominate and elect their own chairperson and vice-chairperson on an annual basis.
Bennett's resignation comes after the school board ignited a local controversy earlier this year by proposing a new name for the school built to replace Kelly Road Secondary School in the Hart.
In February, the board voted to name the new school Shas Ti Secondary School, following a presentation by Lheidli T'enneh Chief Clay Pountney and elders Clifford Quaw and Kenora Stewart. The name means, "grizzly path" in the Dakelh language.
The move prompted several rallies in opposition and an outburst of online outrage – outrage which frequently included blatant racist tones, or personal attacks aimed at Bennett and other members of the board.
In April the board back-tracked, and agreed to a compromise – proposed by Bennett –resulted in the new school being named Shas Ti Secondary School and Kelly Road Secondary School.
Last month, Bennett said he is looking forward to becoming a regular trustee again, so that he can "use my voice more at the table" rather than acting as a facilitator.
In addition, the father of three said his family and professional life as executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters is demanding more of his time.
In addition to electing the chairperson and vice-chairperson, the board will elect trustees to represent School District 57 on the B.C. School Trustees Association and B.C. Public Schools Employers' Association.
In-person attendance at the school district office is limited because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the meeting will be streamed live online starting at 6 p.m. A link to the live stream will be available online at www.sd57.bc.ca.
