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.
Trustees for the 2022-2026 term
Board Chair – 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): F.W. Howay Elementary School, Queensborough Middle School.
Vice 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 Sanctuary Schools and Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) committees and sits on the Joint City and District Working Group Committee. Sluis is also the liaison for the District Parent Advisory Council.
Liaison school(s): Ecole Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary, Queensborough Middle School, Learners Program at Hume Park.
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 and is the board’s representative to the BC School Trustees’ Association. She also serves on the Joint City and District Working Group Committee.
Liaison school(s): New Westminster Secondary School, Ecole Glenbrook Middle School.
Trustee – Danielle Connelly
Trustee Danielle Connelly is serving her fifth year as trustee. She is the chair of the Operations Policy and Planning Committee and is also on the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) and Canadian Parents for French committees. In addition, Connelly is the board’s representative to the BC Public School Employer’s Association.
Liaison school(s): Connaught Heights Elementary School, Skwo:wech Elementary School, New Westminster Adult and Online Learning.
Trustee – Elliot Slinn
Trustee Elliot Slinn is serving his first year as trustee. He is a member of the Sanctuary Schools and Anti-Racism Advisory committees. Slinn is the board’s alternative representative to both the BC School Trustees’ Association and the BC Public School Employer’s Association.
Liaison school(s): Lord Kelvin Elementary School, Fraser River Middle School, POWER Alternate Secondary School, Royal City Alternate Secondary School (RCAP), SIGMA alternate program.
Trustee – Mark Andres
Trustee Mark Andres is serving his first year as trustee. He chairs the Education Policy and Planning Committee and is a member of both the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) and Anti-Racism Advisory committees.
Liaison school(s): Ecole Herbert Spencer Elementary School, Ecole Qayqayt Elementary School, Queen Elizabeth Elementary School.
Trustee – Kathleen Carlsen
Trustee Kathleen Carlsen is serving her first term on the New Westminster board of education.