Wednesday December 11, 2019 ~ LANGFORD
by Mary Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
At last night’s Sooke School District 62 (SD62) board meeting (December 10, 2019), the board held an election for Chair and Vice-Chair.
In a show of solidarity and support, the Board of Education re-elected Chair Ravi Parmar for a second time, while acclaiming Trustee Bob Beckett as their new Vice Chair.
Both elected within the Belmont Zone of SD62, Parmar was first elected as a Trustee in 2014, and re-elected in 2018. A former Langford Fire Chief, Beckett was newly elected to the SD62 board in October 2018.
The full board serves for 2018-2022: Ravi Parmar, Chair (5 years service); Bob Beckett, Vice-Chair (1 year service); and Trustees Wendy Hobbs (23 years service – Belmont Zone), Bob Phillips (20 years service – Milne’s Landing Zone), Margot Swinburnson (20 years service – Milne’s Landing Zone); and Allison Watson (1 year service – Milne’s Landing Zone).
SD62 school trustees are elected by the public in two zones, alongside municipal elections. The Belmont Zone trustees are elected by voters in Langford, Colwood, Highlands, Metchosin and parts of View Royal. The Milne’s Landing Zone trustees are elected by voters in Sooke, East Sooke and Juan de Fuca area out to Port Renfrew.
“It has been a pleasure to serve the Board for the last two and half years,” says Parmar. “I look forward to continuing the work with our new Vice Chair, the Board and our partners to ensure the Sooke School District remains a great place for our students to learn, engage and grow!”
“We are fortunate to have a Board that is efficient and progressive,” says Scott Stinson, SD62 Superintendent. “Trustees understand the needs of students and staff, as well as families and the community. With SD62 growing so quickly, we will all benefit from the guidance and leadership of Trustees Parmar, Beckett and the entire Board of Education.”
Trustee Dianna Seaton was thanked for her service as Vice Chair over the past year and a half. She also has chaired the Resource Committee which crunches the budget numbers and in the past year has explored school bus transportation issues.
In a short speech to the board upon his re-election as Chair, Ravi Parmar said that the board’s strategic plan (presently for 2018-2021, with the three planks of Learning, Engagement and Growth) will soon come up for review and revision. In the coming year, the board will be excited about the expansion of Royal Bay Secondary School and the beginning of construction of two new schools (elementary and middle) in the Westhills area of West Langford. “This has been one of the most successful years in the history of SD62,” said Parmar.
