The newly elected school trustee for Salmo, Blewett, and Taghum wants to see parent advisory councils returned to their original role as dispensers of advice instead of dollars.
Sheri Huser defeated three other candidates Saturday, including incumbent Art Field.
She has been actively involved in both the Salmo Elementary and Salmo Secondary parent advisory councils since her son started school 13 years ago.
She has also been a parent representative on both schools’ planning councils, and was the parent member of the district’s committee for hiring the principal of Salmo Secondary.
“I would like to see the parent advisory councils recognized as the advisory councils they were meant to be and not the funding bodies they have become,” she says.
Huser has a background in early childhood education and accounting, and believes both will serve her well as a trustee in addition to her years on various school district-related boards and committees.
“Schools are the foundation of our communities and we must make that foundation strong by building our relationships between students, staff, parents and community,” she says.
“I think we should be providing more support for teachers and administrators as they cope with the changes in our public school system brought about by declining enrollment.”
Meanwhile, board members paid tribute Tuesday to outgoing trustee Field at his final meeting.
Warm wishes also came from Nelson District Teachers Association president Tom Newell and CUPE’s Rick Korens, both of whom worked alongside Field in Salmo, where he was a teacher and administrator.
“To know all of you has been a real plus,” Field said. “Sheri beat me badly — I think I lost by 175 votes. I don’t know the answer there, but I wish her the very best.”
Field has been on the board for a dozen years, and kidded about his retirement plans.
“I’ve secretly been taking some computer courses,” he said to laughter.
Huser is joined on the board by fellow newcomer Rebecca Huscroft, who topped the polls in the south rural zone, displacing incumbent Verna Mayers-Mackenzie.