By Pepper Parr
April 10th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Of the eleven Halton District School Board trustees, four are elected by the public school supporters in Burlington.
Two of the four are at risk.
Trustees Andrea Grebenc and Leah Reynolds have said they were not prepared to make any comment on their election plans at this point in time.
The Gazette did not get a response from Papin.
Grebenc, who is now chair of the school board, is not likely to be forgiven by the Pearson high school crown for her vote to close the school. She is proving to be a chair with growth potential and a much needed different level of energy.
We will find out if she has the political smarts to come to terms with some very unhappy constituents once the campaign gets underway. She does have her work cut out out for her
Richelle Papin has not managed to win the favour of the ward 4 school parents. The fit as a trustee just wasn’t all that good. She may choose not to run again.
Reynolds was seen as the heir apparent for the ward 2 city council seat when (not if – when) Councillor Meed Ward announces she is running for the office of Mayor. The Reynolds star has dimmed recently. If she chooses to run for the city council seat when it becomes available the people in the ward may choose to reward her for the work she did to keep Central high school off the closing list.
She would be re-elected as a school board if that is where she chose to remain – which is probably in her best interests.
There is a much stronger woman that is likely to run for the city council seat – she hasn’t declared yet – and no we are not going to say who it is other than that she could serve the people of the ward and the city rather well
The one star trustee has been Amy Collard from ward 5 – she has been a bulldog in the way she has held the Director of Education accountable. She has been acclaimed each time she ran as a school board trustee.
She has expressed some interest in city council – she would certainly give the incumbent Paul Sharman a run for his money.
There are a couple of trustees from the other municipalities in the District that could consider retirement.
All the action isn’t at city hall.
Salt with Pepper are the musings, opinions and reflections of the publisher of the Gazette
Let’s not forget the Oskville, Milton and Halton Hills also voted to close 2 high schools. If they can do it in Burlington they will do it on their home turf.
Having sat in on several Board meetings, and having engaged in direct communication with Ms Papin, I am comfortable in saying that she has done little to represent the interests of Ward 4 residents. Should she choose to run again, I would strongly urge constituents to consider other more viable, accountable candidates.
Three (3) HDSB Trustees; Reynolds, Grebenc and Papin voted to close Burlington high schools. One courageous Trustee Collard did not. My vote is for Amy Collard and against Reynolds, Grebenc and Papin who did not represent Burlington’s high schools. Enough with those who demonstrated treachery, treason and uselessness.