Linda Ross returned as BSD chair, Carr elected vice-chair on second ballot

The newly elected Brandon School Division board of trustees has officially taken office, with trustees completing their oaths before choosing the board’s leadership for the coming year.

Past chair Linda Ross was the only trustee nominated for chair and was elected for the coming year by acclamation.

The election for vice-chair was more competitive, with trustees Kirk Carr, Lorraine McConnell and Duncan Ross putting their names forward.

After two votes by written ballot, Carr was declared vice-chair. The ballots were then ordered destroyed, and Linda Ross assumed the chair for the remainder of the meeting.

Ross thanked trustees for their confidence in allowing her to continue as chair, acknowledging that the board has a significant amount of work ahead.

“We have lots of work before us, and I think that we will work together well as we have in past years to achieve the best for all of the students of the Brandon School Division,” Ross said.

The board’s first meeting on Monday evening began with the nine elected trustees standing to take the oath of office and affirming their commitment to perform their duties faithfully and impartially.

Secretary-treasurer Denis Labossiere, who presided over the oath-taking, confirmed that statements of assets and interests had been filed by all nine elected trustees in accordance with the Public Schools Act.

The oath-taking also officially welcomed new members Jim McCrae, Bill Hogan and Brad Rusnak to the J.L. Milne Boardroom.

The trio took their oaths of office alongside all the incumbent trustees who successfully retained their seats during last month’s municipal election.

This group of incumbents includes Linda Ross, Duncan Ross, Kim Fallis, McConnell and Carr.

Looking ahead, Linda Ross said the board’s central responsibility would remain providing the best education possible for students while working within financial constraints.

Among the board’s continuing priorities, she said, are improving academic performance among Indigenous students, monitoring the progress of English as an Additional Language students and preparing the division’s next budget.

Ross said budget work would begin immediately, with the goal of approving the budget by the end of February or beginning of March 2027.

“The budget we set reflects what we can do for our students,” she said.

Carr agreed that the budget would establish an important direction for the coming year.

“The success of our students is our primary goal,” he said.

The new leadership will also begin working with three newly elected trustees, the chair said

“We are all the members of the board, and no one trustee has more power or authority than any other,” she said. “Once a decision is made by a majority of the board, I expect all trustees to adhere to that decision.”

Carr said differences of opinion could contribute to the board’s discussions.

“We’re all on equal footing. Our voices all carry the same weight, and we all got to work together,” he said. “It’s actually a good thing if we don’t all agree to the same things, as it allows us to have different perspectives.”

Before voting began for the vice-chair position, each candidate addressed the board.

Carr said he believed he could bring “a fresh perspective and energy” to the role, drawing on his experience leading and chairing community boards and organizations.

He also emphasized the importance of openness and transparency, saying every trustee should be treated as an equal around the board table.

“We need to work together, learn from each other and ensure that this table remains a place of respect where everyone feels comfortable speaking up, especially when we disagree,” Carr said.

McConnell said she wanted to expand her contribution beyond her role as a trustee and viewed the vice-chair position as an opportunity to learn and potentially prepare for future leadership.

“I am truly an advocate for inclusion, respect, conversation and recognizing that we don’t all look at things through the same lens,” she said.

Duncan Ross, who had served as vice-chair for the previous two years, sought another term.

“I think that I bring a reasonableness, a sense of stability, and a sense of common sense to the role and to the board as a whole,” he told the board.

Labossiere explained the voting procedure before ballots were cast. A candidate needed a majority of votes to win. If no candidate received a majority on the first ballot, the candidate receiving the fewest votes would be removed and another ballot held, he said. The process would continue until a majority was reached.

After the first ballot failed to produce a majority, Duncan Ross was removed from the next round. The subsequent vote was between McConnell and Carr, with Carr ultimately receiving the majority of votes.

Supt. Jon Zilkey congratulated the trustees and said he looked forward to working with the board during what he described as an extremely busy year.

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