Sioux Lookout trustee resigns

The Northwest Catholic District School Board held its first meeting of the 2003-04 school year in Stratton last weekend and had to deal with the loss of one of their own in the process.
“The trustee is Bev Kondra from Sioux Lookout,” said Education Director John Madigan.
He explained Kondra and her husband had been planning to move west to be closer to children and grandchildren pending the sale of their house in Sioux Lookout.
With that accomplished, she tendered her resignation effective the end of August.
“They have at least one daughter out there,” Madigan said of Kondra’s move to British Columbia. “She’s gone to enjoy her grandchildren in the beauty of the mountains.”
“It is with regret that I am unable to complete the last few months of my term,” Kondra said in a hand-written statement to the board dated Aug. 18.
“Education has been a great part of my life and I have enjoyed my last few years working with the excellent administration, staff, and board members of the Northwest Catholic School Board.”
Speculation her resignation was due to a disagreement during the board’s meeting back in March over redistribution of trustees across the district, in which Kondra lobbied for more representation from the Sioux Lookout area, was dismissed by Madigan.
With school board elections approaching in November, the remaining trustees decided Saturday that the position would remain vacant rather than try to fill it for a short period of time.
Madigan explained trustees have the option of choosing to “ride it out” with only about 60 days remaining until the election. He also noted that if no one comes forward in November, the board will have to make some decisions.
“They’re going to see if anyone is going to file in Sioux Lookout,” said Madigan. “If no one, it will be filled either by [a] by-election or by appointment.”
He said appointment is normally someone from the area who can represent the area, though he hinted it may not come to that.
He indicated there’s talk a member of the school council in Sioux Lookout is considering filing to run for the seat.
The board’s next monthly meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21 by videoconference from the board office at 555 Flinders Ave., next to St. Francis School.
But Madigan indicated the meeting may be moved to the weekend since a computer virus disabled the videoconference equipment over the summer.
The public and media will be notified if a change is made.