New MVSD trustees look forward

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This article was published 01/11/2024 (608 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wednesday’s Mountain View School Division byelection saw the emergence of three new trustees and one returnee, each bringing unique perspectives and aims to a board that has seen its share of controversies.

The division drew intense scrutiny after an April presentation from Ward 2 trustee Paul Coffey was deemed racist by Indigenous groups. That led to calls for Coffey to resign and for the entire board to be dissolved, though Coffey has continued on in his elected trustee role.

The first of four trustee seats became available in March when former Ward 2 trustee Charlene Gulak stepped down to pursue a professional opportunity. Then in June, after a group of Mountain View trustees voted to fire Supt. Stephen Jaddock without cause, Ward 1 trustee Floyd Martens, Leifa Misko (Ward 1) and Scott McCallum (Ward 4) resigned their positions over what they described as the “conduct of board members.”

Of the three trustees who resigned from the board in June, only Martens contested in the byelection.

Elected in Wednesday’s contested races were Martens and Conrad Nabess in Ward 1 (Roblin), Scott Lynxleg in Ward 2 (Grandview-Gilbert Plains-Ethelbert), and Jarri Thompson in Ward 4 (Dauphin).

Martens told the Sun he has a renewed commitment to the community’s needs.

“My primary goal is to stabilize the division by prioritizing financial planning and addressing the immediate needs of students and families,” he said in an interview on Thursday. “Budget will be a focal point for the next while because the division is in budget planning.”

Regarding past controversies, Martens acknowledged the need for the board to rebuild trust with the community.

“Trust is earned … I hope that we’ll focus on the things that matter most and that trust will be regained if it’s been lost. I intend to direct the board’s energy towards what’s most important to the students and families.”

Martens also admitted that, while he does not yet know all the newly elected trustees personally, he is hopeful that fresh perspectives will contribute positively to the board’s dynamic.

Lynxleg, a member of the Tootinaowaziibeeng First Nation, said he is committed to fostering truth and reconciliation, championing inclusivity and restoring confidence among division staff.

Amid recent controversies and policy changes, he aims to bring his experiences from his work with Treaty 2 to support the division’s goals, emphasizing the importance of truth, open communication and community collaboration.

“Truth is the first word in truth and reconciliation,” Lynxleg told the Sun. “The real facts, the history that hasn’t been presented factually — that’s something I’d like to see fully explored. My daughter and grandchildren attend schools in the division, and I feel a personal connection to my work with the board and am deeply invested in seeing it serve students well.”

Lynxleg hopes to take time early in his tenure to meet each board member, expressing a desire to build mutual understanding and establish shared goals.

“We now have a full board, and I’d like to hear from each member about their plans for our board and our kids,” he said. “I’m willing to work together with anyone who wants to move forward for the betterment of the kids.”

As a new trustee, he said, it is important to meet with staff directly to better understand their perspectives.

“During my campaign, I emphasized that the voices of students, staff, and parents matter,” he said, explaining that he has already made a point of visiting schools across his ward. “I want everyone to feel heard,” he added.

Lynxleg is joining the board shortly after it decided to allow only the Canadian, provincial and school flags to be displayed on school grounds — a policy aimed at fostering inclusivity but one that has sparked some debate.

As an advocate for treaty awareness, he said, flags mean symbolism and representation.

“I work for Treaty 2, and my job is internal, and external relations. I go out and do reconciliation and treaty awareness, which includes presenting flags … When you see a Canada flag, you know which country you’re in,” Lynxleg said.

“If you see a Treaty 2 flag, it’s a recognition of where you are and an acknowledgment of treaty land. I have a different opinion on that, but I guess that will be addressed sometime down the road … To be inclusive, I was brought up [that] everyone’s equal, no matter who you are, and to be respectful of everyone.”

For Lynxleg, his primary focus remains on creating a welcoming and respectful environment for students.

“Kids just want to go to school, have fun, learn, and make friends and that’s all we want for them.”

Meanwhile, MVSD senior electoral officer Kirk Dawson told the Sun that voter turnout was higher than average for school division byelections.

The voting process, he said, was “very smooth,” with only minor “hiccups” typical of such elections.

“Turnout was extremely good compared to a lot of school division byelections. They can average in five to six per cent, and we had about 11 per cent, so a good turnout with preliminary results indicating approximately 1,208 ballots cast,” he said in an interview on Thursday. “The turnout was elevated by … the issues that have been in the media. I think there was a heightened awareness, for sure.”

Another indicator of public interest was the presence of races in all three wards, in contrast to the previous byelection, where two of the four wards went uncontested.

“There was nothing by acclamation … so, yeah, that was a very healthy, healthy process.”

Regarding the hiccups, Dawson said, some voters expressed confusion over eligibility rules, particularly regarding residency requirements.

Some property owners mistakenly believed that land ownership alone qualified them to vote in division elections, he said, which was clarified during the process.

Dawson emphasized the importance of restoring MVSD’s board to full capacity.

“… It is very healthy to have a full board of trustees back in place and I expect a lot of healthy conversations moving forward,” he said.

The Sun was unable to reach Nabess or Thompson for comment on Thursday.

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