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Ryan Pederson is new chair after split vote at NESD board meeting

NESD organizational board meeting held board elections, reviewed annual 2023-2024 report and set meeting dates.
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Ryan Pederson was elected chair by the draw of a hat.

MELFORT – The new board of trustees for the Northeast School Division held their first board meeting on Nov. 19. 

Pederson was victorious by chance, after a split vote, the two nominees, Lori Kidney, previous board chair and Ryan Pederson had their names put in a receptacle. Pederson’s name was drawn and declared the chairperson of the board. Pederson is the board trustee for Naicam, Star City and area.

Lori Kidney was nominated and declared vice-chairperson. Two other trustees were nominated but declined to accept the nomination.  

The new board reviewed the previewed the 2023/2024 annual report. The NESD student enrollment in 2023-24 grew by four per cent over the previous year and marked the highest total student enrollment in the past five years. 

Over the past 25 years, NESD has consistently maintained three-year graduation rates above 80 per cent. While the 2022-23 milestone of exceeding 90 per cent was initially celebrated, it ultimately proved to be an anomaly and a misrepresentation of the long-term trend it said in the report. 

The board also scheduled their board meetings for the year and they are as follows: 

• Jan. 21, 2025  

• Feb. 25, 2025 

 • March 25, 2025  

• April 15, 2025  

• May 27, 2025  

• June 24, 2025  

• Aug. 19, 2025  

• Sept. 16, 2025  

• Oct. 21, 2025 

 • Nov. 25, 2025 (Organizational and Regular Meetings) 

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