The new representative for the Estevan rural area on the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division’s board is looking forward to the experience.
Virgilito Sotto was acclaimed to the subdivision, known as Spruce Ridge, back in October. He replaces Bob Cossette, who decided not to seek another term.
“I think it was a year or two years ago that Bob was encouraging me to be part of it, because he was going to be retiring soon, but I was kind of hesitant,” said Sotto.
Cossette approached Soto once again, and after Sotto talked with his wife about what he could bring to the board, Sotto decided to run.
He was told a fresh face and some new ideas would be welcome on the board, especially with the changing demographics of the students in the division.
He has spoken with a few friends in the Estevan area to find out what they think of the Holy Family division and the direction the board has taken during the past term. He’s a big supporter of Catholic education, and he and his family were raised in a Catholic setting in his native Philippines.
Sotto believes his experiences in education will help him with Holy Family. He has been an education assistant and a substitute teacher at Holy Family, although not as much in the past year or two, because he has been busy with his job.
In the Philippines, he was a teacher.
“I know in the school division right now, it is diverse with different cultures. There are many Filipinos in the schools. There are other nationalities as well. So I think that what I can bring and what we have done in the Philippines that might also help with the education, I don’t know if it will work or not … but there will still be a learning curve for me on this board,” he said.
Since he is new to the board, he will spend the first few months learning the ins and outs of the system.
“Then if I have ideas to put in, they might come, but there are no specific plans for now,” he said.
