Polling station at School District offices (photo credit: Kevin Rothwell/Vernon Matters)

By Kevin Rothwell

Advance voting underway

Vernon School District candidates zoom in on the issues

May 19, 2021 | 12:45 PM

The four candidates vying for a trustee position on the Vernon School District board had their opportunity to talk to potential voters, during a 90 minute virtual forum Tuesday night.

Fifty-five people tuned in to hear what Jenelle Brewer, Phillip Gruner, Julie Melanson and Christie Tujik have to offer as a new trustee.

The candidates were given three minutes to provide their background and why they are interested in becoming a trustee.

The session was co-hosted by the Vernon Teachers Association (VTA), The District Parent Advisory Committee (DPAC) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). Representatives of each of those organizations were able to ask each candidate a specific question as it relates to their group.

Brewer, a mother of two, is a business consultant and two-term former council member of the Okanagan Indian Band. She was a representative on the district aboriginal eduction committee. Her community involvement has included O’Keefe Historic Ranch, the United Way and 2022 B.C. Winter Games.

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“Over the years, what I have learned is the most important thing about being a board member is knowing the difference between roles of governance and management, and letting the people you hire do their jobs,” Brewer said.

Gruner is CEO of Vernon Immigrant Services and a W.L. Seaton graduate with two children in Vernon schools. He has been involved in parent advisory committees and board committees.

“Throughout my time and career I’ve had the opportunity to have many different types of departments under my leadership, large teams and managed large budgets, so I’m quite comfortable with employee counts within the Vernon district and the budget that the school district manages,” Gruner said

Melanson is a marketing and communication specialist who graduated from W.L. Seaton and is the daughter of two retired teachers. She is the aunt of three students in local schools.

“The school district makes up a large part of our community, and at a time when there will be increasing mental health concerns, I see this as an opportunity to be more involved in my community,” Melanson told the forum. “At a time climate change is at the forefront, I see a role for the school district to be participating in education and solutions within this.”

Tujik is a SD 22 student supervisor (currently on leave) who has two children in local elementary schools and has been involved with the PAC at Beairsto Elementary. She was a key part of the lobby effort to get a fifth kindergarten class at the school, and a crossing guard. Tujik has been on a couple of board committees and has previously run for trustee.

“My background has a lot of different aspects, I believe this school board needs another parent on the board with passion and drive who is able to get things done,” Tujik said

The SD22 DPAC has also done a questionnaire with the candidates on key issues facing the district which is being shared with the public.

Advance voting goes from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today (May 19) and on May 26, with general voting on May 29 for residents of the City of Vernon and RDNO Electoral Areas B and C. Voters must present two pieces of identification with a current address.

Voting is taking place at the school district office at 1401 15th Street.

A vacancy on the board of education was created by the death of trustee Mollie Bono in February. The position will run until the next civic elections in B.C in October 2022.