- Lenora Trenaman acclaimed chair and Cody Beebe acclaimed vice-chair

Provincial Court of B.C. Judge Craig Sicotte administered the oaths of office for eight school trustees at the inaugural School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) board meeting held on November 10, with Nelson Police Chief Constable Donovan Fisher serving as witness. 

The new Board of Education then acclaimed Trustee Lenora Trenaman as board chair and Trustee Cody Beebe as vice-chair. Chair Trenaman has served as chair in previous terms.

"I am grateful to all the board members for putting their trust in me to chair the Board of Education once more. I am honoured to serve students, families and communities in SD8 and will continue to work with all trustees to ensure we make sustainable decisions that support learning from the early years through graduation,” said Chair Trenaman. 

"I’m excited to work with Chair Trenaman and every trustee that has made the commitment to serve on the Board of Education,” said Vice-Chair Beebe. 

“I thank each of my fellow trustees for giving me the opportunity to support K-12 education in a leadership role.”

Other trustees declared in board positions are Trustee Hango as the B.C. School Trustees Association Provincial Councillor (alternate: Trustee Blackmore); Trustee Verhoeven as representative for the B.C. Public School Employees Association and chair of the SD8 Education Partner Advisory Committee, and Trustee Shunter as chair of the SD8 Policy, Operations and Finance Partner Advisory Committee.

One of two trustee positions for Electoral Area 1 – City of Nelson/Bealby Point remains vacant as a result of too few candidates in the October 17 General Local Elections. 

In keeping with B.C. election procedures, SD8 will seek the names of potential trustees from the Board of Education and the public in the coming weeks after which the Province of B.C. will appoint a ninth and final trustee to the Board.