Information Sessions Planned for School Board Candidates

NOTE: A list of meeting dates and locations follows this release.

Nova Scotians who are considering seeking office in October's school board elections will be better informed about the role and responsibilities of elected members.

The province is holding information sessions beginning Tuesday, May 29, in Yarmouth for current and potential school board candidates.

"School boards have an important function in the education system and school board members have a vital role in making decisions in the best interest of students," said Education Minister Ramona Jennex. "The role of a school board member can be challenging, that requires finding the right balance to reflect community priorities while ensuring all students in the region receive a quality education."

The province is also developing a schedule for performance reviews of school boards as part of its education plan, Kids and Learning First, to help the boards improve efficiencies and ensure effectiveness.

The information sessions will be held at regional school board offices, between May 29 and June 13, and at three Conseil Acadien schools between June 7 and June 19.

Department of Education senior staff will explain the type of decisions an elected board will face, such as school reviews or approving a budget. The elected members develop policy and make decisions, while staff, working at the direction of the superintendent, implement those policies and decisions.

In order to run for school board office, a candidate must be 18 years of age at the time of nomination, a Canadian citizen, and be a resident of the school district in which they are seeking office for six months before nomination day.

Regional school boards also include an elected at-large member from the African Nova Scotian community and a Mi'kmaq representative appointed by the Education Minister.

All information sessions will be at the following regional board rooms at 6:30 p.m.:

• May 29, Tri-county Regional School Board Office, 79 Water St. Yarmouth
• May 30, South Shore Regional School Board Office, 130 North Park St., Bridgewater
• June 5, Strait Regional School Board Office, 16 Cemetery Rd., Port Hastings
• June 6, Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board Office, 275 George St., Sydney
• June 11, Annapolis Valley Regional School Board Office, 121 Orchard St., Berwick
• June 13, Halifax Regional School Board Office, 33 Spectacle Lake Dr., Halifax
• June 14, Chignecto Central School Board Office, 60 Lorne St., Truro

CSAP sessions will be at schools in the following communities at 7:30 p.m:

• June 7, Ecole NDA, 15118, route 19, Cheticamp
• June 14, Ecole secondaire du Sommet, 500 boulevard Larry Uteck, Halifax
• June 19, Ecole secondaire de Par-en-bas, route 308 Nord, Tusket