Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Gerard Greenan advised today that school trustee elections will be held Monday, May 26, 2008.
Minister Greenan encourages people to consider running for election or to nominate a worthy candidate. “There is a great deal of important and exciting work taking place in the education and early learning sector and we need to have a strong parent voice in this work,” said the minister. “I encourage Islanders to get involved by putting their name forward for election or by encouraging someone else to run, and by getting out to vote.”
The role of the school trustee is to oversee the work of the boards and ensure that standards and regulations are met. Trustees represent communities, participate in school board decisions and contribute to student achievement through the development of good public policy.
To be eligible to run in the trustee election, a person must be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen, and a resident of the school unit for at least six months.
In the French Language School Board, a candidate must be the parent of a child in a French first language program, eligible to have a child in a French first language program, or eligible if the candidate had a child.
Minister Greenan also advised that plans are being made to extend the length of the term served by trustees from three to four years, effective in June 2008. This change is being made in response to requests from the boards.
Each candidate must obtain the signatures of ten or more qualified electors from his or her zone. Nomination papers may be filed with the Elections PEI zone returning officer beginning Monday, April 28 and ending Friday May 9, 2008 at 4 p.m.