ATHABASCA — The seven trustees of Aspen View Public Schools gathered around the usual U-shaped board meeting set-up in their new office space for the first time since the start of the 24/25 school year.
As students and staff in the division begin their undertakings for the next 10 months, so do trustees. Current board chair Candy Nikipelo welcomed her fellow board members to Athabasca University’s Willow Room Sept. 12, which will serve as the home for meetings for the foreseeable future.
“(We’re) hoping for a really great 24-25 year,” said Nikipelo. “The organizational meeting is always an exciting meeting, our first meeting of the year, so let’s make it a good one.”
Nikipelo is serving her second year as board chair after being appointed for a two-year term during last year’s organizational meeting, but up for grabs this year was the title of vice chair.
Trustee Anne Karczmarczyk received the only nomination for the position from Trustee April Bauer and accepted the role with no contest and unanimous support from the board. This year will mark Karczmarczyk’s fourth consecutive appointment as vice-chair in her second term as trustee.
“(I’m) extremely honoured,” said Karczmarczyk in a Sept. 19 follow-up interview. “Serving as vice chair, supporting our chair Candy Nikipelo, has been a seamless relationship.”
“Our political advocacy is something we’re very passionate about right now,” she added. “There are a lot of issues coming down the pipe from government (like) fiscal responsibility and funding. (We’re) doing the best we can with the dollars we’re provided.”
Money talks
In addition to the appointments for external, internal, and community committees — a complete list of the committee appointments will be available in the Sept. 12 organizational meeting minutes on Aspen View’s Website — trustees also reviewed their own compensation rates.
A motion to increase the meal allowances for breakfast, lunch, and dinner by $5 each was met with unanimous support. Nikipelo put the idea of an increase on the floor to keep up with the rising costs of inflation.
If trustees are on the clock before 7:30 a.m., they’ll be allocated $15 for breakfast, up from the previous $10. Coverage for lunch will increase to $20 if board duties continue past 1 p.m., and after 6:30 p.m. trustees can receive $30 for supper. Trustees also have the option of submitting actual meal costs with detailed and summary receipts.
Another remuneration item that received attention was the inclusion of up to five additional per diems a year.
Trustees are compensated for travel and meetings relevant to their board and committee responsibilities, but confusion around what extra per diems could be used for was voiced by a number of trustees.
In Aspen View’s internal policy seven on board operations, section 13.8.3 notes the additional five per diems can be used for duties not directly related to board or committee meetings but still under the purview of board responsibilities.
“There are times where we are going over and above our regular duties, and I would encourage everyone to use those discretionary days at their will,” said Nikipelo. “
Trustees April Bauer and Dennis McNeil still had questions on how the five extra days differed from the two additional professional development days trustees are allowed.
Administration noted they could be used for related political events, trips to observe programs or divisions in other areas of the country or world, or any trustee-related activity without first needing to seek approval from the board.
After the discussion, no changes to the additional per diems were made.
“This is our last year in this term, we may have different faces around this table next year,” said ward six Trustee Donna Cherniwchan.
