An option has been created for a young person on the Sunshine Coast to join a committee bereft of youth, but which they once ran.
School District No. 46 (SD46) trustees voted in favour of a motion at their Jan. 8 regular meeting, made by trustee Tonya Ste. Marie, to support the appointment of a youth representative to the Youth Action and Awareness Committee (YAAC).
Founded about a decade ago by former trustee Greg Russell, “it had all youth on it to start with,” said Ste. Marie, but over the years young people dropped off the committee and the bi-weekly public meetings developed into an outlet for child and youth service providers to discuss issues and events relevant to children and young people on the Sunshine Coast.
Recent student trustees weren’t aware of the committee’s existence, Ste. Marie told the school board, “which is a shame, since it was started by a trustee and had all youth on it, and [the student trustees] felt as though it would be of interest.”
Ste. Marie represents the school board on the committee, which is overseen by Sechelt Community Schools coordinator Ted Chisholm.
Trustees supported the motion. “I think it’s really important to have a youth member on the team,” said trustee Sue Girard. “Obviously that’s the whole focus of the group.”
The only hitch now will be whether students decide to join – and that’s in part because of the motion itself.
Ste. Marie had originally asked for the District Student Leadership Team (DSLT) to choose a student representative to attend the meetings. However, concern was raised by both superintendent Patrick Bocking and vice chair Stacia Leech that the motion was too prescriptive.
“It sounds like we are directing them,” said Leech. Bocking noted the philosophy of the DSLT is to function independently and not receive direction from the board.
The motion was amended so that SD46 supports, rather than directs, a DSLT member or an interested youth to join the committee.
Student trustee Jessica Carroll was not able to attend the meeting.
