There's a new leadership team at the helm of the New Westminster school board.
Trustees voted for their new chair and vice-chair at Tuesday night's meeting (Nov. 24). In a first for the board, the vote took place via virtual Doodle poll in lieu of paper ballots, since the board is still holding its meetings online via Webex.
Gurveen Dhaliwal, previously the vice-chair, was acclaimed as chair after being nominated by outgoing chair Anita Ansari.
There was a three-way race for the vice-chair's spot, as trustee Maya Russell nominated Dee Beattie, while Danielle Connelly and Mary Lalji put their own names forward. Connelly, who ran for school board under the New West Progressives banner, and Lalji, an independent, are the only two trustees who aren't part of the majority group endorsed by the New Westminster and District Labour Council (the group that ran with Team Cote in the 2018 municipal election).
After a brief procedural discussion over whether trustees are, in fact, allowed to self-nominate, Russell agreed to nominate both Connelly and Lalji so the election could proceed.
In the end, Beattie emerged the winner.
Beattie was also chosen as the board's delegate to the BC School Trustees Association's provincial council, with Maya Russell as her alternate.
Russell was chosen as the board's representative to the BC Public School Employers' Association, while Connelly was selected as her alternate.
