Linda Busuttil, the Upper Grand District School Board trustee for Wards 2, 3 and 4 in of Guelph, was elected board chair on Dec. 5.
This is Busuttil’s first time elected as chair. She was first elected as a trustee in 2006.
Busuttil has served as vice-chair of the board and the chair of numerous committees including: business operations, negotiating steering, audit, property, strategic planning and served as a provincial Ontario Public School Board Association (OPSBA) director from 2010 to 2016.
In her address to the board, Busuttil thanked her fellow trustees for the confidence and trust they have placed in her, and thanked outgoing chair Mark Bailey.
Busuttil also expressed gratitude to the UGDSB’s director of education Martha Rogers and senior staff for their leadership.
“As always, it is our students who give us purpose and hope,” said Busuttil.
“They are the reason we are here. We delight in seeing how engaged they are in their learning and how they are making a positive impact on the world around us.”
Trustee Marty Fairbairn, who represents Guelph Ward 6 and Puslinch Township, was acclaimed to serve as vice-chair for a sixth year.
The positions are for a one-year term ending Nov. 30, 2018.
At the inaugural meeting, trustees were also named to the board’s various committees. Trustee Susan Moziar continues her role of program committee chair for the next year, with trustee Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy serving as vice-chair.
Trustee Martha MacNeil will take on the role of business operations committee chair, with trustee Barb White serving as vice-chair.
Fairbairn will serve as a director on the OPSBA board of directors.
The final meeting of the 2016-17 board preceded the inaugural meeting.
Trustees expressed their appreciation to the media for coverage of education issues during the past year and for their continued cooperation.
