The names of several incumbents on the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school board will be missing when voters go to the polls on Oct. 20 for local elections.
No trustee has yet said they will run again, while three confirmed they won’t.
The turnover starts with Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA Lisa Beare, who was able to springboard from her trustee seat to the provincial cabinet, where she is serving as the minister of tourism, arts and culture.
Board vice-chair Susan Carr is hoping to make the jump to Maple Ridge council.
Carr said she will run for a seat on council after having served 10 years on the school board.
She chairs the city’s Social Policy Advisory Committee, and organized two fentanyl forums. She also serves on the opioid working group. She has gotten to know city hall staff, and seen how things work.
Trustee Ken Clarkson said he is tired of rejection letters, and the budding author is going to quit politics and focus on writing.
“Ten years is good for me,” said the retired teacher. “It’s been a fantastic experience.”
He said the province has taken too much power away from local school boards, reducing trustees to a “figurehead” role.
Victoria sets the budget, and most of it is comprised of staff salaries and non-discretionary costs.
“When you lose control of the budget, you lose all control,” said Clarkson.
While three trustees say they won’t run again, three more are still undecided.
Mike Murray has been chair of the board for two terms, which is the limit trustees put on the position. He is undecided about whether he will run again.
Murray said the change from three-year terms to four may influence whether people run.
“A four-year term is a long time. It may weigh on people.”
Dave Rempel, a retired principal who has served 22 years on the board, is also undecided.
Trustee Korleen Carreras has served one term on school board and is also undecided about running again.
Trustee Eleanor Palis could not be reached for comment.