By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

The importance of the school trustee election

Oct 13, 2018 | 2:24 PM

NANAIMO — The upcoming municipal election won’t only change the makeup of Nanaimo city council. It will also have a significant impact on the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public School District. On voting day, people will chose who they want as school district trustees, who guide the district and make budgetary decisions.

Outgoing school board chair Steve Rae told NanaimoNewsNOW who voters pick for their trustees is just as important as who they pick for city council.

“Trustees shape the direction the district goes, they set the strategic plan and their staff does the work. They’re also key in decisions about how much money is spent within the budget.”

With so much focus on the council race, Rae said voters should be just as diligent in picking their trustees.

“They represent our children, who are our future.” Rae said voters should do their homework, look at how incumbents have voted and be sure to ask candidates as many questions as possible to make an informed decision.

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There’s a full slate of trustee candidates with 20 people in the running.

Rae said there’s a large cross-section of people running this year.

“There’s candidates who represent moving forward, there’s candidates who believe we should go back to a different direction. There’s young candidates, there’s older candidates, there’s a large cross-section running all with their own ideas on how it should move forward.”

Election day is Saturday, Oct. 20.

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