Audrey Trombley was re-elected as chairwoman of the Southeast Cornerstone Public School Division Board at the monthly board meeting on Wednesday. The reorganizational session was held during the regular public meeting.
In nominating her as board chair, trustee Elwood White said of Trombley, “She’s extremely passionate about the education of our children. She believes in education as it opens doors to opportunities.”
He added that she spends “countless hours” of volunteer service in this position.
The process was efficient as the nomination processes for chair and vice-chair positions went un-opposed with Carol Flynn once again assuming the role as vice-chair.
Other reorganizational matters were covered efficiently with trustee assignments to committees such as the audit team, Saskatchewan School Boards public section membership, provincial school athletic association and government/human resources committee representatives from Cornerstone.
The board will continue to meet on the third Wednesday of each month with a break in that schedule being observed in July and August of 2018.
Due to ongoing pressure from the provincial government to keep expenses in check, the trustees voted in favour of maintaining the status quo in terms of per diem indemnities, keeping the rate at $235 per meeting per day with a half-indemnity of $117.50 being in effect for any meeting or assignment that took four hours or less to complete. However, if total time including travel exceeds four hours (a half-day meeting) or eight hours (a full-day meeting), additional hours will be paid at a rate of $25 per hour.
The trustees also stuck to the $235 per month payment for preparation time with the chairperson receiving an additional amount to accommodate the heavier workload that is required of that position.
Other financial issues such as travel/mileage allowances were kept at the traditional rate. It was agreed that one-third of the indemnity amounts were non-taxable incomes.
Other expenses such as accommodations and meals while on board business are to be approved on a rate comparable to the provincial legislative bodies.
Chairwoman Audrey Trombley noted she had done some research into payment schedules for other school divisions across the province, and she said she was satisfied with the fact that “we are on the low side of the median when it comes to compensation, and that needs to be transparent to the community, and to the people we represent.”
