Trustee Cindy Schafer has been re-elected as the chair of the Abbotsford board of eduction on a special meeting on Dec. 3. Trustee Shirley Wilson was elected as the vice-chair.
Schafer has served as chair for the past year, as well as from 2008 to 2011. The longtime interior designer has been a trustee since 2005.
Wilson has also served as trustee since 2005, and is a past president of the Fraser Valley branch of the B.C. School Trustees Association. In the community, Wilson is a former director with the Fraser Valley Child Development Foundation, chair of the school district's policy committee, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters Upper Fraser Valley, and chair of the parks, recreation and culture commission.
Schafer reviewed the achievements of the past year in her comments following the election.
“The past 12 months have seen a variety of achievements and accomplishments by our students, schools and district. Many of these were the direct result of our focus on the district Strategic Plan. We articulated three priorities under the Strategic Plan: early learning, quality teaching, and expanded pathways for secondary students, and we have been able to successfully support those priorities,” Schafer said. “Just as integral is our continued focus on the two goals in the annual Achievement Plan, Student Plan for Student Success: to improve student achievement and our graduation rates.”
After detailing some of the specific district accomplishments and milestones, the chair noted:
“Perhaps it goes without saying, but week-in and week-out, our greatest achievements across this school district are those realized by our students, with the support and guidance of the teachers, leaders and support staff on our school district team. Collectively, as the board of education, we take great satisfaction in those accomplishments while knowing there is still work to be done to achieve even greater results.”