Guelph, Ontario: Orangeville trustee, Bob Borden was acclaimed to his second term as Chair of the Upper Grand District School Board, and Marty Fairbairn, a trustee representing the City of Guelph (Wards 1, 5 and 6) was acclaimed as Vice Chair.

In his inaugural address, Borden, a retired elementary school principal, reflected on his past year as chair and highlighted successful endeavours including developing a balanced budget which provided extra support for special education and atrisk students.

He also noted the opening of a new school in Orangeville, Island Lake PS, and the renovations of the former Mount Forest high school to house elementary students in the newly renamed Victoria Cross Public School.

Borden commented on challenges facing the board in the future, and said he remains hopeful that changes to the government’s capital funding process will help the board meet accommodation pressures in growth areas, and bring resolution to issues in a number of communities that were left in limbo as a result of the new funding scheme. He also stated his desire for the Minister of Education to work collectively with trustees across the province to ensure a strong local voice for education.

Fairbairn, first elected to the board in 2003 chaired the Human Resources and Finance Standing Committee last year as well as serving on the Special Education Advisory Committee and School Council Coordinating Committee.

A veteran of school councils and home and school associations, he is also active provincially as a member of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association’s (OPSBA) Program Work Team. He holds a PHD in Philosophy and is the author of numerous academic articles.

Trustees were also appointed to chair the board’s three standing committees: Program, Susan Moziar; Operations, Ralph Edwards: and Human Resources/ Finance, David Gohn.