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Supplied: Grande Prairie Public School Division, Facebook
By Abby Zieverink
municipal election

Joan Nellis elected as chair for Grande Prairie Public School board

Oct 28, 2021 | 4:11 PM

The Grande Prairie Public School Division’s new board of trustees has elected Joan Nellis to be its board chair.

As the new voice and representative for GPPSD’s board of trustees, Nellis says it was humbling to have her name put forward by her colleagues.

“It’s exciting times in education and there’s a lot going on and no shortage of work, that’s for sure, and our board is definitely ready for that work.”

Over the next four years, Nellis says their board has a lot of work ahead to ensure the division’s principles and visions are met.

“We want to make sure our budget and allocations are going to the right places, and we want to make sure our students and our teachers are supported, and we want to make sure our community sees the results.”

One of the hot topics from the election campaign, which Nellis and the rest of the board heard, was the provincial government’s curriculum recommendation.

“Grande Prairie as a whole and Grande Prairie Public (School Division) does not support the new curriculum and so we have some advocacy work and strategies to employ there.”

Nellis suggests the board is keeping mental health supports for students and teachers top of mind.

“We need to dig in and find out what we’re doing now and set parameters and make sure those things are the same things we want to continue, add, or change to continue to make that work.”

Nellis suggests the COVID-19 pandemic is also still on the radar for the GPPSD board.

“There’s definitely work to do on that front too, so there’s a lot of health care work for people in education, but at the same time, it’s work that needs to be done.”

The vice-chair elected on behalf of the board is incumbent Andre Ouelette.

Following the 2021 municipal election, the trustees for GPPSD elected by the public include:

  • Ray Buziak (new)
  • Chris Johnston (new)
  • Donna Johnston
  • Paulette Kurylo (incumbent)
  • Rob Martin (incumbent)
  • Board Chair Joan Nellis (incumbent)
  • Board Vice-Chair Andre Ouellette (incumbent)
by Abby Zieverink