FORT FRANCES — A trustee at the Rainy River District School Board (RRDSB) has resigned.
At the beginning of the RRDSB board meeting earlier this week, chair Kathryn Pierroz said the board accepted trustee Michael Graham’s letter of resignation and declared the trustee seat vacant for the Town of Fort Frances and Unorganized Areas East of Fort Frances.
No reason was publicly given for the departure.
The motion was in effect immediately as of February 6, 2024.
Graham served as a school board trustee for one year and four months, officially beginning his position in November 2022.
He is an educator by profession, an aviator by vocation and a human resource mentor as his calling. His LinkedIn profile reads, “Michael could be found comfortable in a corporate boardroom or classroom in the morning and then transporting medical patients 300 miles away later in the same day.”
In the discussion period, Vice-Chair Mike Walchuk said it was unfortunate that Graham had resigned as trustee.
“I'm going to miss having him here, and it’s our loss that he's leaving,” he said. “Michael was a determined advocate for our students, he was authentic, sincere, wholehearted and loved working with everyone at the board. I'm going to miss the thought-provoking ideas that he brought to the policy committee and the passion that he brought to all our needs.”
Trustee John Fuhrer was appointed to the policy committee, and Jeff Lehman was elected to fill Graham's place as the board's OPSBA representative.
At the end of the board meeting, Pierroz took a moment to acknowledge the departure of Graham and expressed her gratitude for his contributions.
“Michael Graham has been a valuable contributor to the board. I want to express my gratitude for the insights, dedication, and passion that he has brought forward. Although we will miss his presence, we remain grateful for the impact of his contributions,” she said.
To close, Pierroz noted that the board is committed to ongoing learning and will be committing to professional development opportunities.
“In essence to all of the above, our commitment to ongoing learning and self-reflection is pivotal in our pursuit of excellence. By seizing opportunities for professional development, and finding ways to grow in our professional personal journeys, and acknowledging the contributions we each bring to this table, we not only enhance our individual capacity, but also our collective strengths. And I look forward to engaging with each of you in these upcoming sessions and continuing our journey towards excellence together.”
The RRDSB will begin the search for a new trustee to fill Graham's vacancy. According to the Board's policy, applications from qualified candidates will be accepted by the Director of Education. A successful candidate will be selected by the Board within 90 days. According to the policy, details of the process will be made available on the board's website and local media.
Fort Frances Times / Local Journalism Initiative
