Skip to content

SD 70 asking education ministry for byelection exemption

School District 70 is asking the Ministry of Education for an exemption to the school act for the byelection to fill Glenn Wong's seat.

By-elections will be held to fill the civic seats held by the late Glenn Wong.

The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District chair and School District 70 trustee died suddenly in Victoria on Sept. 28.

Wong served as director of the ACRD’s Cherry Creek Electoral District since 2002. And he was a school board trustee since 1999. He also the chaired the ARCD.

The school act has to appoint an officer within 30 days, SD 70 Secretary Treasurer Jerry Linning said.

At the ACRD, provincial regulations require that a by-election be held to fill Wong’s vacant seat, chief administrative officer Russell Dyson said. City representative Cindy Solda has been serving as interim chair of the ARCD.A report is being prepared that outlines options and timelines, and will be presented to ARCD directors at their regular meeting on Oct. 24.

The ACRD has coordinated the school board election because its boundaries are the same as SD 70’s. But there are challenges to this arrangement. The ACRD and SD 70 have different timelines that they are legislatively required to hold an election within.

The school district has asked the Ministry of Education if an exception can be made in this instance so that the elections be held simultaneously, Linning said.

reporter@albernivalleynews.com

Twitter.com/AlberniNews

Got any thoughts about this you'd like to share? Send us a letter by e-mail then. Make sure to include your first and last name.