ATHABASCA - Aspen View Public Schools has elected a new vice chair, following the resignation of longtime trustee Anne Karczmarczyk.
The remaining six trustees unanimously elected Donna Cherniwchan to the role at the April 17 board meeting, the first after Karczmarczyk’s resignation.
“Whenever you step into a new role or a new committee, you learn a lot more about the division, and the bones of it. I’m really looking forward to it,” said Cherniwchan, in a post-meeting interview.
“I’m looking forward to supporting our board chair. Candy Nikipelo has been an excellent leader for our board, and I’m looking forward to learning more from her, and continuing the work with our team of trustees.”
Cherniwchan will hold the role until the upcoming municipal/school board election, which is set for Oct. 20. Because of the proximity to the election, Aspen View will not be holding a byelection to fill the vacant seat.
Cherniwchan first ran for a trustee position in 2014, where she was elected in Ward 6 near Vilna. At the time, she had three school aged boys and said she wanted to improve their educational experiences.
“My family has several educators in it, my mother, my sister, several aunts and uncles. I have such respect for the teaching profession, and I really just wanted to support student learning,” she said.
“Coming from a small rural school myself, I know there are several challenges we face in terms of programming and getting teachers to come out to rural Alberta, and I want all kids, regardless of whether they attend school in a big city or a rural community, to have the best opportunities available to them.”
In a March 21 press release announcing her resignation, Karczmarczyk cited a recent move from the district boundaries as the reason, and said she had no doubt the work her fellow trustees were doing would continue.
