Vision Vancouver leaning to back new term for Greens’ Janet Fraser as school board vice chair

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      Janet Fraser of the Green Party of Vancouver has always had to explain her vote in the selection of chair of the city’s school board.

      Because the nine-member board splits four even for Vision Vancouver and the Non-Partisan Association, the lone Green education trustee gets to cast the deciding ballot.

      Following the 2014 municipal election, Fraser’s swing vote ousted Vision’s long-time school board chair Patti Bacchus, and installed the NPA’s Christopher Richardson, a move that triggered an against the Green trustee.

      In a statement at that time, Fraser said that she made a “difficult decision” because she wanted to “reflect the public’s desire for change” in the school board.

      Following the resignation of Richardson as chair in June 2015, the board elected a new chair and Fraser cast the deciding vote again, this time installing the NPA’s Fraser Ballantyne as new chair.

      “My vote was not based on aligning with a party, but based on who would best serve the board at this time,” Fraser wrote in a statement explaining her vote for a second NPA school board chair.

      Fraser has served as vice chair under the Richardson and Ballantyne administrations.

      On December 14 last year, the board voted a new chair, and this time it was Vision’s Mike Lombardi. Again, it was Fraser’s ballot that decided the contest.

      On the next day, Fraser issued a statement, which read in part, “In the past year’s Chair elections I voted for NPA nominees, Trustees Richardson and Ballantyne, to reflect the change voters brought to our board. This year I voted for the Vision nominee, Trustee Lombardi, to reflect that the trustees on our board are four Vision, four NPA and one Green.”

      Fraser remains the vice chair, although on Monday (January 11), the board gets a chance to name a new one if that is what members want.

      According to Lombardi, Fraser is interested in another term as vice chair.

      “I haven’t heard from anybody yet,” Lombardi told the Straight in a phone interview Wednesday (January 6). “Janet certainly has expressed an interest.”

      Lombardi noted that he will be releasing a memo on Friday (January 8) about his recommendations in the appointments of trustees to various positions in committees and school liaison assignments, as well as that of a vice chair.

      Until that day, Lombardi will be consulting with trustees on what they want, ensuring that everybody is happy.

      Asked if he looks forward to working with Fraser as vice chair, Lombardi said: “I’ve always had a good working relationship with her, and we welcome her as the vice chair of the board. Obviously, I have no reservations whatsoever. I would look forward to it.”

      In another interview, Bacchus said that she hasn’t asked to be the vice chair.

      “I don’t believe anyone in the Vision caucus has expressed an interested in being vice chair,” Bacchus told the Straight by phone.

      Asked if she personally prefers to see Fraser get another term, Bacchus replied: “I think she has done a good job as vice chair, and I certainly would be quite happy to see her continue in that role.”

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