LAKELAND – In preparation for the upcoming 2023-24 school year, board trustees from Lakeland Catholic School Division (LCSD) gathered for their annual organizational meeting on Aug. 23.
Decisions made during the organizational meeting included selecting this year's chair and vice-chair for the board, choosing board members for division and provincial-based committees, as well as trustee remuneration.
Trustee Mary Anne Penner will continue to serve as the chair for LCSD’s Board of Trustees, while Anna Brockhoff will step into the role of vice-chair. 
This is Penner’s second consecutive year as chair, with over 35 years of experience as a trustee for Lakeland Catholic.
Before retiring in 2015, Penner served as the director of the Cold Lake Public Library for 28 years. Throughout her years on the board, she has held the position of chair, vice-chair and trustee.
“It is truly an honour to serve in the role of chair. I will continue to strive to ensure our board considers what is best for all of our students and staff. I am looking forward to all that we can accomplish in the year ahead,” Penner said.
Cold Lake trustee Brockhoff accepted the position as vice-chair. This will mark her first year serving as vice-chair for Lakeland Catholic.
“I look forward to expanding my role as a trustee by accepting the position of vice-chair for the 2023-24 school year,” said Brockhoff. “I became a trustee because I value the opportunities available to me to be a part of my children’s education and have a voice to advocate for all parents in my area.”
Brockhoff previously served as School Council chair for Holy Cross for five years. Now that her children have moved to Assumption Jr/Sr High School she made the decision to try her hand at becoming a trustee.
This is Brockhoff’s first term as a trustee after being elected to the board in October 2021.
Board representation on committees
Serving on the Negotiations and Salaries Standing Committee this year will be board chair Penner, vice-chair Brockhoff and trustee Diane Bauer. On the Teacher-Board Advisory Standing Committee will be trustees Bauer, Donna Cloutier and Vince MacDonald.
When it comes to the division’s Ad Hoc Committees, trustee MacDonald will sit on the Division Safety Team. Bauer, Cloutier and MacDonald will sit on the Transportation Appeal Committee, while Brockhoff, Vicky Lefebvre and MacDonald will join the Audit Committee.
Board chair Penner will sit on the provincial Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA). Vice-chair Brockhoff and trustee Lefebvre will represent LCSD on the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA), while Brockhoff, Penner and MacDonald will represent the division in the Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Assocation (ACSTA).
During the organizational meeting, trustees agreed to hold at least two regular board meetings or committee of the whole meetings in each of the division’s catchment communities – Bonnyville, Cold Lake, Lac La Biche and Waskatenau.
The dates for when and where these meetings will take place outside of Lakeland Catholic’s main office have yet to be determined.
Trustee remuneration
Lakeland Catholic trustees have agreed to hold the line when it comes to board member remunerations, voting unanimously to maintain the previous year’s remuneration rates for meetings and mileage.
The Board of Trustees agreed to maintain the $75 rate for electronic meetings, $155 for half-day meetings, $250 for all-day meetings, and $300 extended day meetings.
Mileage for work-related travel will stay steady at $0.55 per kilometre for trustees. The board heard that the mileage rate is consistent with most school divisions across the province.
“When I look at what other school divisions across the province are offering, it ranges between 0.50 to 0.55 cents a kilometre primarily, but there are some that offer a little bit higher at 0.59 cents,” stated Lakeland Catholic secretary treasurer Tessa Hetu.
Monthly remuneration for trustees will also stay the same as in previous years. The board’s chairperson will see a monthly remuneration of $700, the vice chair will receive $450 per month, while trustees will receive $350 per month.
Meal allowance while attending conferences will remain at $15 for breakfast, $20 for lunch and $30 for dinner.
