A new school board chair is guaranteed at School District No. 46 (SD46) after current chair Lori Pratt announced she wouldn’t seek re-election this fall so that she can concentrate on her bid to become Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) director for Halfmoon Bay.
“I will not be running as a trustee again,” Pratt told Coast Reporter. “I’ve had a very rewarding 10 years as a school board trustee, I’ve really enjoyed it, and I think right now it’s important to focus on the regional district, and my family, and my other pursuits.”
In February, Pratt, 43, announced she would be running for SCRD director for Area B, but she hadn’t yet made up her mind about whether she’d gun for a seat at the school board, too. Since then she said she has heard from community members that they would prefer having “a variety of elected folks, not one person holding multiple positions.”
Regionally, Pratt said water, solid waste management and economic development are the top three issues facing the SCRD board. “We have some great strategic planning documents already in place at the SCRD, however what I’m finding … is that we haven’t moved far enough, fast enough,” she said, referencing the SCRD’s weekly water consumption targets, which have been repeatedly missed since Stage 3 water restrictions were put in place. “If we’re going to have these targets we need to meet them,” she said. She is also in favour of water meters, which she said should go hand in hand with education on water conservation at the household level.
Pratt’s preference is to prioritize the installation of a water reservoir over other water projects, such as the Chapman drawdown. “Storage is key,” she said, before adding that a reservoir is “the more responsible environmental choice,” compared to Chapman.
In terms of Halfmoon Bay issues, Pratt said the replacement of Coopers Green Hall should happen despite rising costs. Community volunteers are aiming to raise $300,000 to cover part of the estimated $1.9 million needed to build a new hall. “It’s hard to always give the dollars and cents case, but … when you lose your gathering place, you lose your sense of community,” she said.
Developing Area B’s economy by promoting tourism, as well as road improvements, would also be focuses for Pratt. “There’s a lot of places along Redrooffs, where the road is essentially starting to slough off into the ditch and so I am committed to work with the province to increase safety,” she said.
Currently, Halfmoon Bay is the only electoral area with an official candidate race. Terry Knight announced on Aug. 22 that he will be running, and told Coast Reporter that outgoing director Garry Nohr has agreed to be his alternate. “It’s Garry’s choice,” said Pratt of the decision, adding that it had come as “a little bit of a surprise.” She had been in conversation with Nohr about running, but had not asked him to be her alternate.
And while she may be stepping down as SD46 board chair, Pratt said she will keep her job as a realtor for Royal LePage Sussex. “I have a child in university this year and a child in university next year,” said Pratt of her decision. “They’ll need some financial support.”
