SCHOOL DISTRICT 8 - KOOTENAY LAKE
SD8 Appoints Secretary-Treasurer

The School District No.8 (Kootenay Lake) Board of Education has appointed Cathy MacArthur as the new secretary-treasurer and chief financial officer for SD8, effective September 12, 2023. She was hired as manager of finance for the district in April 2023 and served as interim secretary-treasurer since May 2023.

"On behalf of our Board I am very pleased to announce Cathy's appointment and relay the board's confidence in her financial and leadership skills. Each of our trustees has had the pleasure of getting to know Cathy during her tenure as interim secretary-treasurer. We look forward to working with Cathy this year during the 2023-2024 budget as well as in developing the 2024-2025 budget going forward," said Board of Education Chair Lenora Trenaman. 

Cathy is a chartered professional accountant with an extensive and diverse background in accounting, auditing, financial planning and analysis, and financial reporting in both the public and private sector. Her management focus has included team building and staff development.

Cathy has worked in senior financial roles at Royal Roads University, British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) and the Office of the Auditor General. She is well practiced as a financial leader in education and government where her role was to communicate and work with executives, audit committees and elected boards.

"My husband and I have owned a vacation property in the area for several years now and had been hoping to permanently relocate to the Kootenays to be closer to family and friends. To be able to serve the school district and support the Board of Education as secretary-treasurer as we implement our new strategic plan is really a wonderful opportunity that I'm excited to take on," said MacArthur.

As secretary-treasurer for SD8, Cathy will oversee an annual budget of over $80 million and report to Superintendent of Schools/Chief Executive Officer Trish Smillie. She will manage finance, information technology, operations, and facilities for the district. Her responsibilities also include asset management and privacy management. 

"Cathy is an exceptional financial professional and leader. She has already shown her skill at improving financial processes in the district, engaging staff, learning district reporting requirements, and has successfully taken us through our 2023 financial audit. Cathy will be instrumental in moving us forward as an organization in our leadership skills and financial management so that we are each equipped in SD8 to focus on the people we are here to serve - our students, families, and school communities," said Smillie. 

About the Board of Education of School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake):

The Board of Education of School District No. 8 provides educational services to numerous diverse communities in the East & West Kootenays, including Crawford Bay, Creston, Kaslo, Meadow Creek, Nelson, Salmo, Slocan, South Slocan, Winlaw, Wynndel, Yahk and to students across B.C. through its provincial online learning school, Elev8. Its dedicated team focuses on providing the best possible educational opportunities for over 4,700 students and their families. Its mission is to inspire and support each learner to thrive in a caring learning environment.