New Westminster Schools’ board of education establishes procedures and guidelines to operate the district’s public schools. It is responsible for producing a budget, administering spending, and working with individual schools through the School Trustee Liaison Program. The board’s other duties include:
- Policy, planning, and evaluation.
- Action on legal requirements.
- Selecting senior personnel.
- Public relations.
The board welcomes questions and comments from the public. All email received by the board are documented for review.
2024 Board Advocacy Plan
The Board of Education’s Advocacy Action Plan outlines what we hope to achieve and ensures our advocacy efforts are strategic, coordinated, and consistent.
Trustees for the 2022-2026 term
Board Chair – Cheryl Sluis
Trustee Cheryl Sluis is serving her first term as trustee and was elected Vice Chair on September 26, 2023. She is a member of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) and Audit committees and sits on the Joint City and District Working Group Committee.
Liaison school(s): Fraser River Middle School, Skwo:wech Elementary
Vice Chair – Danielle Connelly
Trustee Danielle Connelly is serving her fifth year as trustee. She is Chair of the Committee of the Whole and is also on the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI), Accessibility, and CUPE Labour/Management and Grievance committees. In addition, Connelly is the board’s alternate representative to the BC Public School Employers’ Association.
Liaison school(s): New Westminster Secondary School, Queensborough Middle School
Trustee – Maya Russell
Trustee Maya Russell is serving her second term on the New Westminster Board of Education and was elected Board Chair on September 25, 2023. She sits on the Burnaby-New Westminster Task Force on Sexual Exploitation and the Joint City and District Working Group Committee. Russell is also an active member of the ESL consortium.
Liaison school(s): To be updated.
Trustee – Gurveen Dhaliwal
Trustee Gurveen Dhaliwal is serving her second term on the New Westminster Board of Education and had served as Board Chair on three prior occasions. Dhaliwal sits on the CUPE Labour/Management and Grievance Management – Step 3 Committee. She also serves on the Joint City and District Working Group Committee.
Liaison school(s): To be updated.
Trustee – Elliott Slinn
Trustee Elliott Slinn is serving his second year as trustee. In addition, Slinn is the board’s representative to the BC Public School Employers’ Association.
Liaison school(s): Ecole Glenbrook Middle School, Ecole Herbert Spencer Elementary
Trustee – Marc Andres
Trustee Marc Andres is serving his second year as trustee. In addition, Andres is a member of the Anti-Racism Advisory Committee and Climate Action Working group. He is the Board’s Provincial Delegate to the BC School Trustees Association.
Liaison school(s): Lord Kelvin Elementary, Ecole Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary,
Trustee – Kathleen Carlsen
Trustee Kathleen Carlsen is serving her first term on the New Westminster Board of Education. She is the Board’s Provincial Delegate Alternate to the BC School Trustees Association.
Liaison school(s): Queen Elizabeth Elementary, Power/RCAP & SIGMA, Hume Park Home Learners Program and Canadian Parents for French.