Catholic board looks to fill vacant Kitchener-Wilmot seat with Cambridge-North Dumfries runner up
3 trustees have resigned since last year's municipal election
Waterloo region's Catholic school board says it's exploring how to fill a vacant trustee seat after Kitchener-Wilmot trustee Julie Molenaar resigned earlier this month.
Board chair Tracey Weiler told CBC News the board passed a motion Monday to fill the seat with the Cambridge-North Dumfries runner-up from last fall's municipal election.
"[We were] looking at a regional perspective in terms of who was the next runner-up," Weiler said.
"Once we receive approval from the certified result from the clerk, it will be up to myself as the board chair and that individual to have the conversation to see whether they are interested in accepting the position."
She said people who run for school board trustee seats don't have to reside in the community they want to represent. They only need to be a resident of Waterloo region and a Catholic board taxpayer.
Weiler said having a vacant seat doesn't have a significant impact on how the board makes decisions or votes on motions.
"Because we have nine trustees on the board, if there's a vacancy, it's just out of eight," she said. "So when we put decisions forward, it is the same forward strategy in our governance policy."
3 trustee resignations since May
The current board was elected last October and since then, there have been three trustee resignations. In May, former Kitchener-Wilmot trustee Wendy Ashby resigned after some called her to steo down over a tweet she made last fall before the election.
Molenaar was appointed in June to replace Ashby. Molenaar resigned from her position on Oct. 12.
In a letter to the board, Molenaar cited "personal circumstances" as the reason for stepping down.
"I find myself unable to fulfil my duties. My resignation will be effective immediately," she wrote.
Former trustee for Waterloo-Wellesley-Woolwich Sally Fuentes resigned on Sept. 16 citing changes in her family circumstances. Fuentes was replaced by runner up Conrad Stanley.
"Many trustees take on this role in addition to other responsibilities in their lives, including family commitments and full-time jobs, so for this reason, changing of personal circumstances can lead to resignations," Weiler said.
"Each trustee's situation is unique and while we're disappointed to see them go, we do understand that changing life circumstances can lead to shifting priorities."