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Atkinson won't seek re-election

The second-longest-serving school trustee in the province will not be seeking re-election this November. Brent Atkinson told The Record that after 31 years as a school trustee, he's decided to call it a day. "I'm not running," Atkinson said.

The second-longest-serving school trustee in the province will not be seeking re-election this November.

Brent Atkinson told The Record that after 31 years as a school trustee, he's decided to call it a day.

"I'm not running," Atkinson said. "What I've always tried to do in my 31 years is to work with the consensus at the board table, and I've had a lot of difficulty doing that in the last three years. It hasn't been as personally rewarding as in the past, and I've decided that I'd rather concentrate on some of my major business commitments and my family commitments."

Atkinson, who narrowly won re-election in 2008 by two votes over Vivian Garcia, said his decision wasn't affected by the thought he might lose.

Atkinson won't completely disappear from the school scene because he was recently appointed to another one-year term as chief executive officer of the School District No. 40 Business Company.

"I do intend to remain with the business company, and I'm looking forward to expanding the business company."

While Atkinson's tenure as a trustee is long, it's not even the longest in the district, as Michael Ewen, at 32 years, is the longestserving school trustee in the province.

"Michael and I, politically, we're diabolically opposed, but at the board table, I think we were always able to put politics secondary to the needs of students. . Michael and I developed an admiration for each other, . and yes, I did talk to him before making this decision.

"I think he understands the position I've taken, and he's sincerely disappointed because we've developed a good relationship."

"I think we have to honour and respect the fact that Brent served the community for more than 30 years," said Ewen. "Whether you agree or disagree with Brent - and let's just say I certainly did over 30 years - I applaud Brent for his time on the board."

Ewen said what he respected about Atkinson was how the arguments could get heated, but Atkinson would always listen and shake hands afterwards, regardless of the outcome.

"We come from two different backgrounds, and he taught me a lot about how the business community works," said Ewen. "We could have a vigorous debate, and afterwards we could walk out and have a drink."

Ewen said he wasn't surprised by Atkinson's decision, simply because he saw how tough the last three years have been for

Atkinson.

"I don't think Brent enjoyed (this) last term," said Ewen. "I think the board moved from a largely collaborative approach to a politically motivated approach, and that's not what Brent was about."

School superintendent John Woudzia agrees that the last three years took its toll.

"In my seven years as superintendent, the last couple of years definitely wore on him," said Woudzia. "But what I'll remember about Brent is he was such an outstanding gentleman, so strongly supportive of public education and what's best for kids. He was generous and committed and he supported senior administration strongly. He was a consummate professional and a gentleman."

Woudzia said it was the little things Atkinson did that impressed him the most.

"Brent would always call me personally if he was going to be late or going to miss a meeting," said Woudzia. "That doesn't happen with everyone, but with Brent, that was how he operated."

Atkinson, who first ran for school trustee in 1979, served all but one year until now, having suffered a setback in the mid-'80s.

"I can't remember what year, but I lost by about 140 votes when there was only about 17 per cent turnout that year," he said. "They had another election the next year, and I ran and won my way back."

Atkinson said his old-fashioned way of campaigning, which included taking no money from supporters, running as a true independent, using the same 100 signs each election and relying on word-of-mouth from families and friends, may not have been the most modern, but it worked for him.

"I never really actively campaigned," he said. "Probably I wasn't a good politician because I spoke my mind and stood up for what I believed in."

Looking back on his three-plus decades as a school trustee, Atkinson said he's most disappointed that he wasn't able to see a new high school built.

"We had two really good proposals, and, although we're close, I think the build-out is five or six years out," he said. "It certainly was one of the disappointments."

Earlier this year, Atkinson also got his back up when a Hume Park parent compared him to an El Salvadoran dictator when Atkinson asked the district to look at closing Hume Park Elementary, which had an enrolment of less than 30 students.

"I was the swing vote to keep Hume open at 62 students, and then I'm the one being blamed for asking why we're running a school at less than 30?" he said. "I just think that wasn't very fair. . Why not ask the other three trustees who voted to close the school?"

As for the successes, Atkinson says he loved seeing the football program resurrected at the high school in 2003, he believes the district has one of the most comprehensive and innovative special education programs in the province, and the district was at the forefront of the international education movement.

"We were there 25-plus years ago, and international education has brought in so much revenue for us," he said.

Being able to turn around the fortunes of the business company has been rewarding.

"I stood up for the business company when nobody else would," he said. "Now, it's making positive revenue even though it wasn't supported by a number of trustees. They've been proven wrong with the business company."

As Atkinson rides off into the sunset, he said he doesn't need or want sympathy.

"I will miss it," he said. "This was a very difficult decision. This doesn't mean I won't be paying attention to what's happening in the district and writing letters and getting my thoughts out there.

"I am really grateful for my time on the board, and I'm proud of what I was able to accomplish. I enjoyed my time, but it's time for somebody else."

alau@royalcityrecord.com