ST. PAUL – During the April 10 St. Paul Education board meeting, trustees discussed a proposal from the Government Alberta that would allow those running for a school board trustee position to declare their political affiliation.
The last school board election took place in 2021, and the next election is set for the fall of 2025.
Opening the discussion, Trustee Darcy Younghans said he was not sure of the rationale behind the proposal.
Trustee Dwight Wiebe said the Alberta School Boards Association is against the idea.
“For myself as well, I just see us working together as far as schools are concerned,” he said. “I don’t really see the benefit of that or the reasoning behind that.”
Trustee Jan Rajoo suggested that they have an open discussion with local MLAs to figure out why the move is being taken, and to get more clarity.
Trustee Lorette Andersen shared similar sentiments with the board. Politics are an individual choice, said Andersen, and political affiliation has nothing to do with the job of being a trustee.
“So, I’m against that.”
The St. Paul Education board will be discussing the matter with local MLAs about the rationale behind the government’s proposal, before providing a response.
