It only took about two minutes for the Rocky View School Board of Trustees to elect a new chair at their most recent meeting but selecting a new vice-chair was a different matter.  

At the Sept. 19 annual organizational meeting, Cochrane's Fiona Gilbert was elected unanimously to serve as board chair for 2019-2020.  Gilbert has represented Cochrane on the board since 2013.

Gilbert says she's excited to move into the role after serving as vice-chair to Todd Brand, who decided not to let his name stand for re-election.

"Serving as vice-chair for the last couple of years has provided me with an opportunity to learn, to grow and to learn lots about the division as a whole and how the system works and how we as a board can best support students and families across Rocky View Schools," says Gilbert. "I look forward to continuing that in the role of chair."

Gilbert believes some of the same challenges RVS has been facing for years will continue into the future. The division's huge growth and challenges with infrastructure are the largest ones.

 "As we continue to grow as fast as we are, without the capital, the new school buildings and modulars being added to schools and things like that, without that keeping pace, we are constantly kept on our toes to figure out how best to accommodate students.  As you know, we went through re-doing of boundaries and grade configurations in both Airdrie and Chestermere last year and a discussion around that is anticipated for Cochrane for this coming year so that will be a challenge for the board to see what the community wishes are and how we can accommodate the growth in Cochrane with the lack of capital."

RVS, and every other school division in the province, is waiting with bated breath for the Alberta government's October budget. When asked if she is fearful of possible cuts to education which are being rumoured, Gilbert says she wouldn't use the word 'fearful.'

"We are trusting that the government will stay true to their word as far as making education funding a priority for them, and I believe it is.  We met with (Education) Minister LaGrange earlier this week and she reiterated the commitment of the government to fund public education and we are going to do our best to hold her to that.  How it's all going to look and how it's all going to play out, we're curious about. We are waiting, along with everybody else, to see how that will play out for us."

While Gilbert was the only person nominated for chair, the position of vice-chair was another matter.  Both Ward One Trustee Shali Baziuk and Ward Three's Melyssa Bowen were nominated and agreed to let their names stand.   After a vote by secret ballot, the two were tied, which forced second and third ballots that failed to break the stalemate.  

After referencing the board handbook, Gilbert called an adjournment to the organizational meeting and proceeded with the regular meeting. Afterwards, Baziuk withdrew her nomination, making Bowen the new vice-chair.