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Vernon  

Delay to report, byelection

A byelection to replace three trustees in the North Okanagan Shuswap School District is being delayed due a late report for the Minister of Education.

Special advisor Liz Watson, a Vancouver lawyer looking into governance practises within the district, has requested more time to finish her report for the minister.

“The special advisor met with Minister (Mike) Bernier and presented several draft findings,” said ministry spokesperson Jason Keenan. “The special advisor requested an additional two weeks to finalize the report for (School District) 83. Minister Bernier has agreed to this request.”

The report, which was due on May 20, is expected to be handed in on June 3.

School board trustees within the district were under fire for months over proposals - which were put on hold - to close a number of schools and over revelations they had transferred millions of dollars in surplus operating funds into capital funding projects over the past five years, including the new $9.3 million board offices.

Three trustees — Barry Chafe, Jennifer Wilchuk and Kelly Rowe - handed in their resignations.

A byelection to replace the three trustees is now also on hold, according to the district spokesperson.

“The school district has been granted an exception to the School Act requirements to hold a byelection within 80 days of the appointment of a Chief Election Officer,” said Alice Hucul, who did not explain further.

"After the special advisor report has been received and reviewed, the next steps will be determined in consultation with the ministry," added district superintendent Glenn Borthistle.



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