As she accepted her diploma at Boyle School with her graduating class back in 1985, Candy Ferguson never dreamed she would one day run her school division’s Board of Trustees.
Thirty-four years later, she is doing just that. Now known as Candy Nikipelo, the five-year veteran trustee on the Aspen View Public School Board was picked as its chairperson for a two-year term at their annual organization meeting Sept. 12.
“I feel privileged to have taken on this role,” Nikipelo said. “I would not be serving on the board if I didn’t see the goodness of people taking on this leadership role, as it is not always easy to run for public office. You need people that are loyal to their communities, who are loyal to the division, and seek the greater good for the whole division. We also need some strong people in there to be our voices of our rural school division to try and better what our system is.”
First being elected as the Trustee for Ward 3 - Northeast (Boyle/Grassland) in a by-election in 2014, she said that being involved with her local school board also runs in the family.
"My dad was on the school board for the County of Athabasca District many, many years ago," Nikipelo said. "This was back before it amalgamated with two other school districts in the early 90's to become the present Aspen View Public Schools."
Nikipelo became vice-chairperson for the first time in 2016, and served until her election as board chair. She said in her experience, it’s been an important learning curve for her during the five-year leadership of her predecessor, Dennis MacNeil.
“He has provided really good mentoring and leadership to our board,” Nikipelo said. “Without his encouragement for me to take on this role, it probably wouldn’t have happened. I appreciate everything he gives us, and I look forward to his further contributions to the board.”
She added for the next two years, she envisions many challenges ahead for the division since the change in government following the provincial election last April.
"That's not just for rural education, but for education in Alberta in general," Nikipelo said. "We do not know what is coming to us in the future, so we just need to prepare ourselves for all of the what if's that are coming to us. Under our strong division here at Aspen View, we are able to take those issues, meet them head-on, and make some decisions that are positive for Aspen View."
Trustee Anne Karczmarczyk was picked as vice-chairperson for a one-year term. She said she is very honoured to have been chosen by her colleagues.
"I also came in on a by-election in March 2017, just months before the municipal elections the same year," Karczmarczyk said. "(Dennis MacNeil) and I have shared (the Ward Two - North Central (Athabasca) area) since then, and he's been wonderful in mentoring me as both a Trustee and as a community member."
She said she is looking forward to some of her new responsibilities as vice-chairperson.
"I hope to work with our administration for the betterment of Aspen View Public Schools," Karczmarczyk said. "I'm very excited for our board, and we have a very balanced group of people to work with. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling and learning about the division, visiting the different schools, and I look forward to all the days ahead."
She added while there are tough decisions ahead, the students must always come first.
"We are going to do the best that we can with what we've got, regardless of whatever government we have in place," Karczmarczyk said. "All of us support our rural communities, and we need to work effectively with our stakeholders going forward, including post-secondary institutions and municipalities."
Superintendent Neil O'Shea said the board is well-prepared to handle any changes that come from the provincial government.
"We will face-them head on as they come up," O'Shea said. "Having the leadership of these two ladies is a natural progression. They have shown a keen interest in education, and they have certainly fulfilled their role as Trustees very effectively. Our board has their priorities around student learning, rural sustainability and support their staff. The first two years of the term laid the ground work for what was to be done, and the last two years will see it come to completion."
MacNeil steps back
Just prior to the vote, MacNeil said that after five years on the job as board chairperson, it's time to take a step back.
"It was time for a change in leadership," MacNeil said. "I want to encourage people to step up and fill up the position as part of a succession plan, and I feel that the future of Aspen View Public Schools is very secure."
MacNeil, who nominated Nikipelo as his successor during the election, said that her and Karczmarczyk are very capable to fill out their new roles.
"They know their stuff, they are great leaders, and I'm looking forward to working with them for at least the next two years," he said.
While he added that 2021 is a long time away, he said it is very likely that he will run for another term on the school board at that time.
"I enjoy serving as a Trustee on the school board," MacNeil said. "It's an honour to represent the people in my ward, and the students in my district."
MacNeil was first elected during the 2010 municipal election, making him the longest-serving trustee on the present school board. Prior to his election, he was an educator for more than 30 years and was principal of Rochester School just before his retirement from the profession in 2008.
