By Pepper Parr
July 12th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
For Leah Reynolds it was always about the students
After 8 years of public service Leah Reynolds said: “I’m retiring at the end of the school board term.”
“I have decided not to run in the 2022 Municipal Election.
I’m humbled and grateful to have served as a Trustee for the Halton District School Board (HDSB) and represented students and families from the Aldershot and Downtown Burlington Communities (Wards 1 and 2) these last 8 years.
“I want to express my thanks to the constituents who allowed me to represent them at the HDSB board table. My gratitude goes out to all my volunteers and supporters who inspired me and did everything they could to get me elected.
“My decision to step up and get involved was because schools are the heart of our community. As a parent, I advocated and volunteered for well over 20 years, including as a council member and school chair. I volunteered for in-school reading, and nutrition programs. I was active in community projects that included fundraising for playground equipment and auditorium renewals.
“Those early years provided a solid foundation for me to serve eight years as your Trustee. I am proud to deliver on my commitment for improvements to the future of high school programming, with support for skills trades, and a solid plan for school amalgamations that included transitioning and expanded programming for students with special needs.
“While these last few years have been the most challenging, I supported changes always with the lens of student achievement and well-being. Leading through a pandemic, I did my best within the limits of what we were provided. I was so proud to have been part of a system that shifted our collective focus to improving wellness, equity, and inclusion, and increased awareness of Indigeneity and the environment. We did this while encouraging innovative new approaches to how schools can evolve and continuously improve.”
Reynolds represented wards 1 and 2 during a period of time when the high school in her wards was threatened with closure.
Leah Reynolds with Marianne Meed Ward The two women were always close when they both represented ward 2 residents.
Reynolds, who has always been close to then ward 2 city Councillor Marianne Meed Ward, got tangled up in a sticky situation during the tumultuous school board debates.
“We all want our students to see themselves at our board table. It is my hope that candidates from all backgrounds will put their names forward in the next election.
Related news story:
Reynolds accused of being coached during a school board debate
Resident writes Open letter on the coaching issue
Phillip
June 25, 2017 at 8:00 am
The most troubling question that remains unanswered in this article: “If this is the kind of political influence being exerted in an open meeting, what was said and done behind closed doors?” It would be naive to conclude that this was the only time political influence was exerted.
LBP Alumni
June 27, 2017 at 12:39 am
Nailed it Phillip! Many people are missing this point.
We think these two comments from a Gazette article about Reynolds being coached by Ward 2 Councillor Meed Ward are very appropriate. Many of the electorate know nothing about this including those concerned about what went on behind closed doors in terms of the Bateman sale to the city that, although we think is likely a good thing remaining in public hands, is still tainted with what was said back in 2017 by a very astute “Phillip”.