Two new personalities are taking a seat at the South East Cornerstone Public School Division's conference table following the completion of the recent provincial municipal election mandates.
One new person at the table is Velda Weatherald who ousted the incumbent Jim Vermeersch rather convincingly by gathering 418 of the 506 votes cast, leaving Vermeersch with 84 while four ballots were rejected and one spoiled in Subdivision 2 that includes Arcola, Carlyle, Manor, Maryfield and Wawota.
The other newcomer to the boardroom will be Craig MacDonald, who will take a seat as the second representative for Estevan. He gained the spot through acclamation. The other Estevan representative who has returned to the board business table is Kevin Keating, who also ran unopposed.
MacDonald takes over the chair that was vacated by former Estevan representative Eric McCrimmon a one-term (four year) trustee who resigned his seat.
McCrimmon did not leave without posting his reasons for giving up the post, stating that he felt the public system was being led by a non-supportive provincial government and Education Ministry.
McCrimmon suggested their actions (or non-actions) around the COVID 19 pandemic that left the school divisions stranded in many respects was just one factor. Others included uneven funding decisions. He had pointed to the pull back of funds for public schools while taxpayer funds were being directed to private schools.
The lack of an understandable process in the launching of a provincially based online learning project without any discernable leadership and without consideration of online systems that were already in place and functioning efficiently was also a bone of contention for McCrimmon. He said the public system was subject to what he saw as that unnecessary change while the Separate School and private systems were not subjected to the same type of takeover.
McCrimmon gave these reasons for resignation during the October board session, the last one prior to the municipal elections.
One other subdivision in the Cornerstone system underwent an election process with Audrey Trombley retaining her seat against the challenger Cheryl Lake in Subdivision 5 that includes Filmore, Stoughton, Midale and Macoun.
Trombley, a Cornerstone veteran trustee has also served as the board's chairwoman for about 10 years. She was chosen to assume that position for another year by her fellow trustees during their Nov. 20 re-organizational meeting held in Weyburn.
Others who now return to the Cornerstone board room through acclamation include Devona Putland in Subdivision 1 (Rocanville, Wapella, Moosomin); Jim Henderson, Subdivision 3 (Redvers, Carnduff, Carievale); Tami Scott, Subdivision 4 (Lampman, Alameda, Oxbow, Bienfait); Michelle DeBruyne, Subdivision 6 (Ogema, Pangman, Yellow Grass, Radville, Gladmar and Oungre).
Megan Schick and Norma Hewitt-Lendrum return as the two representatives for the city of Weyburn.
