School board to elect first Indigenous student trustee

Tara Jeffrey An Indigenous Student Trustee position has been approved for the Lambton Kent District School Board. The move, announced last week and approved unanimously at a Jan.

Tara Jeffrey

An Indigenous Student Trustee position has been approved for the Lambton Kent District School Board.

The move, announced last week and approved unanimously at a Jan. 17 board meeting, comes just three months after neighbouring Thames Valley District School Board became the first in Canada to elect such a position.

“I think it’s a milestone for our board and we are certainly celebrating it,” said superintendent Helen Lane, noting the position was first discussed back in November when senior administration were asked to explore the possibility.

It’s hoped the new role, beginning in the 2018-2019 school year — in addition to two current student trustees — will further reflect Indigenous students’ perspectives in board decisions.

It’s recommended that LKDSB self-identified Indigenous secondary students elect the new trustee using a similar process used to elect current student trustees, in addition to consultation with the board’s Indigenous Liaison Committee.

“We really want to ensure that students are selecting students,” said Lane, pointing to the board’s four First Nation communities: Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Stony Point First Nation, Walpole Island and Delaware Nation.

“Student trustees bring an important voice and perspective to board meetings on behalf of student needs in their own schools; they attend conferences and learn about governance… so it’s kind of like an ambassador and advocate at the same time.”