St. Paul Education Regional Division (SPERD) board tabled the issue of whether or not it will hold a byelection to fill the two vacancies that now exist on the board.
This spring, former trustees Rhonda Lafrance and Deb Pederson stepped down from their positions, each for their own personal reason. With Bill 8: Education Amendment Act being introduced in the legislature earlier this month, the board anticipates some changes that could affect how the board decides to proceed.
School divisions do not have follow the same strict guidelines as municipalities do when it comes to byelections. During Wednesday's SPERD board meeting, it was noted that the board is considering looking at electoral redesign, which could see changes in the wards and how they are currently set.
Board chair Heather Starosielski noted the board has been operating as a board of five since Pederson resigned her position.
Secretary-Treasurer Jean Champagne explained that if the board did want to redraw its boundaries, it would have to be done by December 31, 2020, and would be in effect for the next election. If the board holds a byelection, it would have to be under the current bylaw and wards, he added.
"Are we still the same division since 1995?" asked Starosielski, adding, the division's population has declined in certain areas over the last few years. She added it would be concerning to elect someone in a byelection and then have to tell them there may not be a ward specific to the one they were just elected into.
Trustee Dwight Wiebe asked if the board is compelled to have a byelection and fill the vacancies, regardless of if they decide to do an electoral review on boundaries. That answer is still unclear.
The board did agree that conducting a byelection through the summer months would not be ideal.
Starosielski noted the board could decide to keep things as they are, or they could look at a redistribution and chance the wards, or they could consider reducing the number of wards within the division.
Later in the meeting, Starosielski recommended the division reach out to the areas affected by the vacancies, and notify community remembers that the board has been discussing the issue and the vacancies do not have any affect on operations of schools.
As an example, it was noted the Trustee Ruven Rajoo attended the Myrnam graduation ceremony.
"This five member board right now is committed," said Starosielski.
A motion to table the issue until September was carried.
