Public sessions on school board elections

The Island’s French-language school board, the Commission scolaire de langue française (CSLF), and the Fédération des parents de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard are hosting public sessions on the upcoming school trustee elections in each of the six CSLF school zones.

The sessions will provide information to citizens interested in French-language education and encourage them to run as trustees by May 11 and to vote during the school trustee elections held May 28.

Each session presents the role and responsibilities of the CSLF and its elected trustees. The remaining sessions, which run from 7-8 p.m., include May 7 at École Évangéline and May 9 at the Centre acadien de PrinceOuest.

Audience members will then be able to ask questions to obtain additional information. Pertinent documents will be available for potential candidates, and coffee, tea and snacks will be served.

The sessions are part of the proactive efforts by the CSLF under its new policy on education democracy adopted April 10.

Among other things, the policy seeks to increase the number of candidates and voters during trustee elections.

Emile Gallant, chairman of the CSLF, said education is most important service in a youth’s development and in a community’s vitality.

“The CSLF is the only organization elected by all the members of our Acadian and Francophone community, so the CSLF must engage the members of our community in the electoral process.” Melissa MacDonald, president of the Fédération des parents, said parents must play a pivotal role in their child’s education, including the critical policy decisions.

“It is important that the right people be elected at the helm of the CSLF because it plays a vital role in the development of our children, their language, their culture, their identity and their community.”