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Trombley elected as Cornerstone’s chairwoman

Audrey Trombley has taken over a job that she was familiar with in the past.
Audrey Trombley
Audrey Trombley

Audrey Trombley has taken over a job that she was familiar with in the past. The veteran trustee with the South East Cornerstone Public School Division was acclaimed chairwoman of the board of trustees during the board’s annual organizational meeting held in Weyburn on Nov. 20.

Trombley held the position of chairwoman on the initial board of trustees in 2005 and served in that role until 2009 when she resigned from the position, but remained on the board as an elected representative for Subdivision 5.

Harold Laich, who had been chairman of the board for the past two years, taking over from Carol Flynn in 2012, said that he will now just assume the duties as the representative for Subdivision 2 (Moosomin, Wawota region)

“I said I was interested in taking on the chair’s role for a couple of years, which I have done. It’s in good hands,” said Laich. “Audrey has a lot of experience as chair, as does Carol. They’ll move the board forward.” 

Flynn was acclaimed for the vice-chairwoman’s role at the same meeting where the trustees also set the per diem and travel expense rates among other things.

The trustees granted themselves a modest $5 per day increase while conducting school division business for any period beyond four hours. That rate is now $235 for meetings or work sessions that absorb four to eight hours. Any meeting or work session of less than four hours results in a half-rate payment. Business sessions that result in a very long day, exceeding 12 hours, qualifies a trustee for a payment of $470 or $352 for meetings of between eight and 11 hours duration.

Reimbursements for meals purchased while on school board business, will be paid at the same rate as provincial government employees and travel allowances are set at 43 cents per kilometre, but subject to a sliding scale depending on monthly gas pump prices.

The chairwoman will also receive one additional per diem per month to compensate for the extra hours required of the person holding that position. One-third of all indemnities are ruled tax-free. The trustees also receive $200 per month to exactly cover the costs associated with their benefit plan.

During the organizational session, the trustees voted themselves onto several sub-committees such as comprehensive school governance authorities, budget and audit committees, Saskatchewan School Boards Association’s public section, First Nations and Metis committiee and the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association and a newly created ad hoc committee labelled Cornerstone Tomorrow that has a one-year mandate to explore the emerging needs within the public school division that covers 8,200 students in 39 schools in southeast Saskatchewan.

As in the past, the board will meet for regular open business sessions on the third Thursday of every month, beginning at 1 p.m.

The annual meeting of electors was also established at the organizational meeting. The electors meeting is slated for Jan. 15 as part of their regular public board session.

Board members also welcomed newly elected member Warren Betker to the table following his byelection win in Weyburn that was called following the death of former Weyburn City representative Len Williams.