Like the municipal election, although not quite to the same extent, there is considerable interest to sit on the Good Spirit School Division board for the next four years.
Six hopefuls will be vying for three Yorkton city positions in the election scheduled for October 26.
Notably, five of the six are not currently board members. Of the incumbent trustees, only Gordon Gendur is seeking re-election.
Two of the new candidates, Lenore Pinder and Raymond Sass have previously been Good Spirit trustees. The other three, Jan Morrison, Laurie-Anne Rusnak and Steve Variyan all have backgrounds with components in education and governance they hope will propel them to victory on election night.
There are a total of 11 seats on the GSSD board, one for each of eight subdivisions and three for the Yorkton city at large.
Lois Samdych, current chair and representative for Subdivision 5, Saltcoats, Churchbridge, Langenburg and area is acclaimed.
In Subdivision 1, representing Kamsack, Norquay, Pelly and area, incumbent Bryan Cottenie is stepping down. There will be a run-off in that division between Janice Derwores, an office manager, and Jaime Johnson, a homemaker/consultant/writer.
In Springside and area, Subdivision 4, retired Evan Simpson is challenging incumbent Florence Stachura, a farmer, for her seat.
Bob Simpson, retired, who currently represents Melville, Grayson and area in Subdivision 6, will also face a challenger in office manager Rebecca Perra.
The current vice-chair, D. J. Cairns, who represents Esterhazy, Stockholm and area is not running again. Jade Anderson, a research coordinator, is acclaimed in her place.
Nobody has yet let their name stand for Subdivision 8, the Key First Nation. The school division has reopened the nomination process for that constituency.
Below is a brief guide to the candidates.
Gordon Gendur
Gordon Gendur is a retired administrator/educator with experience in both elementary and secondary schools. He currently works for both U of R as teacher intern supervisor and for the U of S as an instructor.
He has also guest lectured at the University in Odessa, Ukraine, and Delene, Northwest Territories.
Gendur is a member the board of directors for the Sunrise Health Region. Previously he was a founding member of Parkland Victim Services and president of that organization for five years. He has served on the SIGN board
Gendur is married with one son working overseas in the oil industry.
Email: ggendur@myaccess.ca
Jan Morrison
Jan Morrison is a single mother whose daughter is currently the third generation of her family attending Yorkton schools.
Morrison has a Diploma in Youth Care and experience in child welfare and hospitality management.
She is currently events manager at the Gallagher Centre.
Morrison has been a board member of the Yorkdale Central School Community Council for seven years. She coaches soccer and is a past volunteer/coach for Girl Guides, Yorkton Syncro Club, Gridders Cheer and Yorkton Band Boosters.
Morrison says she enjoys being involved in her daughters’ education and activities and, if elected, will encourage parents to become invested in their children’s education and explore new ways for GSSD to communicate with students, parents and the community.
Email: jmorrison@yorkton.ca
Lenore Pinder
Lenore Pinder says as a parent of a 10-year-old she has a vested interest in ensuring high quality, safe and sustainable education.
Pinder previously served as a trustee for GSSD. She cites involvement with the development of the current strategic plan as a highlight of her time with the board.
As a manager with the Sunrise Health Region, she says she is reminded daily of the importance of good teamwork and communication in interpersonal interactions and decision-making.
If elected, she promises to act in a manner that will support a school system that fosters development of children as students, individuals and responsible citizens.
Email: lfpinder@gmail.com
Laurie-Anne Rusnak
Laurie-Anne Rusnak was a long-term employee of the Good Spirit school division.
She says having had three children go through the school system in Yorkton, she and her husband David “appreciate and value the profound significance of education in our community and its impact for future generations.”
Rusnak holds a master’s degree in leadership and training and designation as a Canadian Human Resource Professional (CHRP).
She believes her experience in school division administration and municipal government gives her a strong foundation in good governance, fiscal responsibility and accountability.
If elected she says she is committed to building competencies and recognizes the vital influence dedicated teachers and support staff play in providing positive outcomes for students.
Email: ladrconsulting@sasktel.net
Raymond Sass
Raymond Sass has served several terms as a trustee on the GSSD board from 2002 to 2012, including a stint as chair.
If elected, he says he will strive to ensure the GSSD Board is accountable, efficient and effective through the use of a policy governance model. Sass believes his designation as a chartered director from The Directors College (a joint venture of McMaster University and The Conference Board of Canada) puts him in good stead to, in collaboration with the other trustees, accomplish that.
Sass supports the strategic goals of the division and believes he has the leadership skills and experience to help GSSD keep that focus through the “transformational change” promised by the current Saskatchewan government.
Email: rdj66york@gmail.com
Steve Variyan
Steve Variyan is director of training and development for Maple Farm Equipment and claims three decades of experience in administration and education. He is currently a sessional lecturer for the University of Regina at Parkland College.
“I am proud say that my children received all of their public schooling here in Yorkton,” he says. “Like many residents of this community, I have concerns regarding the current state of education today.”
Variyan thinks the Ministry of Education’s proposed “transformational change” will present a major challenge for school boards in Saskatchewan. He believes his background will be helpful in representing the needs of Yorkton and area students.
Email: variyans@yahoo.com
Voting for the Good Spirit School Division Board of Education runs at the same time and in the same locations as the municipal vote.
