Still just a few candidates for local school board trustees

By LAUREN THOMSON, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on September 14, 2021.

lthomson@medicinehatnews.com

With less than a week until submissions for the municipal election close, there are just four official nominations for local school board trustees – one for the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education and three for Medicine Hat Public School Division.

Ken Loehndorf is the only nominee running for the Catholic board. Catherine Wilson, Jillian Schempp and Pat Grisonich are all vying for the chance to be a trustee on the public school board, while Dave Pollard has also confirmed to the News that he will run.

Loehndorf relocated from North Battleford four years ago. The former educator spent a decade as executive director of the Saskatchewan Catholic School Board Association and 15 years as director of education for the North Battleford Catholic School Division.

“I feel like I have some pretty good background for this position,” said Loehndorf. “After working in Catholic education for 25 years, I would really like to provide some support and help to Catholic education in Medicine Hat.”

Loehndorf says he’s ready to serve.

“I believe strongly in and am passionate about Catholic education,” said Loehndorf. “I want to make sure our schools are able to maintain their distinctive Catholic nature. I’m confident they’re doing that now and I would like to support that.”

Pollard is a minister at Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church who has two children in the public school system.

“I very much believe that when boards work well, it can be of great benefit to staff and students,” said Pollard. “I’m hoping to continue in the excellent work of SD76.”

Pollard says it’s important to support school-aged kids.

“People say they’re the future; I think they’re the now,” said Pollard. “I think if we have a school board that’s concerned about them, their well-being and their education, we can set ourselves up for a wonderful future if we act now.”

Catherine Wilson, who has been serving as the chair of the local public board since last October, came into her role by winning a by-election when her father passed away after spending 32 years as a trustee.

“I finished the last seven months of his term,” said Wilson. “I was involved in school councils all through my kids schooling; I was an involved parent and had an interest in being a trustee. When my dad passed away, I had this amazing drive to finish his term.”

Wilson has served two full four-year terms as a trustee, and says kids are the key to making our future better.

“It has been a challenging year, but I think that we’re all in it for our kids, staff and families,” said Wilson. “We’ve worked hard to make sure they’re safe and I’d definitely like to have four more years to be a part of it.”

Pat Grisonich has been a teacher and administrator in both the Catholic and public divisions for more than 35 years. He says community support for students is important.

“The reason that I’m running for trustee is because I still enjoy being around education and school systems. I loved my job and everything about it,” said Grisonich. “Now I feel like if I can try something totally different by becoming a trustee and help out in the school district, help students, staff and teachers, then I want to be a part of that. If I have something that I can offer with my experience, then I want to help.”

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