After guiding the Bluewater District School Board through nine months that were often difficult — Brockton Trustee Jennifer Yenssen will continue as Board Chair for 2010.
Jennifer Yenssen — whose service as a trustee dates back to the former Bruce County Board of Education — was acclaimed as Chair for 2010.
She is pleased that trustees have shown confidence in her leadership by letting her continue to serve.
Yenssen became Chair nine months ago when former Chair Rick Galbraith stepped down amid controversy surrounding accountability and transparency on the board.
Since then, the board has embarked on a review of its policies, taken a satisfaction survey, and is taking steps to improve communication and public involvement.
Yenssen says she is fully knowledgeable of the work that needs to be done during the next year.
She also believes trustees will be attending more meetings than they have during the past three years as they complete the task that has been laid out for them.
She is pleased trustees have not backed away from the controversies at the board and calls the current efforts to turn things around “the reinvention of Bluewater.”
Yenssen says now the board needs to really get down to business and meet to decide how to best implement the recommendations from advisors Geoff Williams and Ross Parry — who were sent by the Ministry of Education to help the board deal with its troubles.
Yenssen says they’ve made a good start, and says the past nine months have been mostly devoted to gathering information.
Hanover – West Grey Trustee John Chapman is Vice Chair for 2010.
Both he and former Vice Chair Jan Johnstone were nominated for the position, the vote was tied, so the selection was made by lot.
Except for one term when his daughter held the seat, Chapman has been involved as a Trustee since 1988 on the former Grey County Board of Education.
He says Trustees choose to serve because they genuinely want to help students.
Chapman says he simply wants to work along with the rest of trustees to address situations and leave the Bluewater Board in as good of shape as possible.