Three students will be inducted into the role of student trustees for the 2020-2021 school year, including the Board's first Indigenous student trustee.
Ashton Wood from Huron Heights S.S. was elected by First Nation, Metis and Inuit students in Grades 6-12 in the Board. As Indigenous student trustee, she will represent the voice of Indigenous students at Board meetings.
Christine Lin from Newmarket H.S. and Felix Nomerovsky from Vaughan S.S. were elected by Grade 6-12 students in the Board to serve as student trustees for the 2020-2021 school year.
Student trustees attend Board meetings and represent the student voice in Board discussions. The new student trustees will begin their term August 1, 2020. Trustees recognized Michelle Chou and Nicholas Hamzea, the 2019-2020 student trustees at the June 2 Board meeting.
All three students will be sworn in during this evening's electronic Board meeting. Members of the public can access electronic Board meetings. Details are provided in the Board meeting agenda.
"Our student trustees are an essential voice at the Board table, bringing valuable and important insights and contributions to our meetings. We offer our heartfelt thanks to outgoing student trustees Michelle Chou and Nicholas Hamzea and look forward to welcoming and working with the incoming student trustees," said Board Chair Juanita Nathan. "We are very pleased to welcome the Board's first Indigenous student trustee and to have the voice of Indigenous students represented at the Board table."
"I am looking forward to being the first Indigenous Student Trustee and representing the voice of the Indigenous student body. I wish to bring my knowledge and Spirit to my position," said Ashton Wood, Indigenous student trustee for the 2020-2021 school year.
"It is an absolute privilege to be elected to serve and represent the students of the YRDSB. As a result of distance learning, the past semester has been difficult for many students and many of the vulnerabilities of the education system have been revealed; there is a possibility that the upcoming school year will be no different. Alongside my co-trustees, staff and fellow students, I will work hard to ensure that all student's experiences are enriching and memorable, despite the possible circumstances," said Christine Lin, 2020-2021 student trustee.
"I'm thrilled to become a student trustee and to work with Christine and Ashton. Also, I'm excited to represent the voices of all students in the York Region District School Board," said Felix Nomerovsky, 2020-2021 student trustee.
At its December 10, 2019 Board meeting, York Region District School Board unanimously approved the addition of new permanent Indigenous Trustee and Indigenous Student Trustee positions. Lauri Hoeg officially assumed the role as the Board's first Indigenous trustee on March 3, 2020.
