Shelley Clarke new chair of Okanagan Skaha board
Shelley Clarke is the new chairperson of the Okanagan Skaha School District.
An 11-year veteran of the board, Clarke topped the polls in Penticton in the Oct. 20 municipal election, finishing first of seven candidates.
She won the position of chairperson by acclamation at the board’s inaugural meeting, Monday.
“It’s lovely that everybody thought enough of me to elect me to the position,” Clarke said in an interview.
“I hadn’t run (for chair or vice-chair) before because I was too busy with my life to consider the position. My one mandate is to bring the different voices together and work together for student success in the district.”
Clarke was nominated by Linda Van Alphen, who with Dave Stathers, will represent Summerland for the next four years.
Clarke topped the polls for the first time in her career. First elected in a 2007 byelection, she finished fourth on two other occasions and third in 2011.
“It’s probably the easiest election I’ve ever run in, but it was very surprising to finish first. I’m very honoured,” she said. “But, we’re all equal with one vote each. You don’t get an extra vote for topping the polls.”
Tracy Van Raes, Barb Sheppard and James Palanio were also elected for Penticton.
Kathy Pierre, a member of the Penticton Indian Band, pulled a stunning upset for rural trustee, beating 16-year incumbent Ginny Manning by 11 votes. Pierre is the first band member since Archie Jack in the 1980s to be elected to the board.
The board consists of four newcomers and three veterans.
“It’s a good mix of people, we’re all from different walks of life,” Clarke said. “It brings in a lot of different views.”
There was a hint Monday of a possible divide. Palanio was elected vice-chair of the board beating Barb Sheppard in a secret vote of trustees. Palanio was nominated by Van Raes and Sheppard by Van Alphen.
When asked about challenging issues, Clarke said the teachers’ contract still needs to be settled.
“That’s coming up in the new year and the funding formula is being looked at by the government. We should know by the end of the year what that will look like.”
She doesn’t anticipate school closures to be an issue over the next four years.
“I would not think so for the simple fact we have that extra funding in our budget to pay for those schools and the Supreme Court decision, which makes for smaller classrooms and we need those classrooms in the schools that we have. Enrolment is up a bit, not much, but we are holding our own and we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”