Michelle Griepsma acclaimed as PVNC Board chairperson

New Board of Trustees sworn in for the 2018-2022 term

Kawartha Lakes trustee Michelle Griepsma was acclaimed as Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board chairperson during the Board’s annual meeting Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, held at the Mount Community Centre in Peterborough.

Griepsma, a mother of four from Lindsay, Ont., has served as board chairperson since the 2013-14 school year. She has been a trustee for eight years and is currently the vice-president of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA).

“I am blessed to work with a group of trustees who are dedicated and passionate about serving the students, staff and families of PVNC and I welcome our three new trustees who will bring their unique voices to the table,” Griepsma said. “I am proud to be chairperson for another term as we pursue excellence in Catholic education together and continue to prioritize student and staff achievement and well-being.”

Northumberland County trustee David Bernier was acclaimed as vice-chairperson. Bernier is a former board chairperson and has been a trustee for 12 years.

Tuesday’s meeting was the first Board meeting for the new Board of Trustees. Trustees Michelle Griepsma (Kawartha Lakes), David Bernier (Northumberland County), Helen McCarthy (Peterborough) and Linda Ainsworth (Clarington) return to the table, while PVNC welcomes new trustees Braden Leal (Peterborough), Emmanuel Pinto (Peterborough County) and Kevin MacKenzie (Clarington) to their new roles.

“Being a Catholic trustee is in itself a generous act of service to the community,” Director of Education Michael Nasello said. “You have put yourselves forward to be a voice for the community in which you live, to set strategic direction and policy for our Board and our schools, to ensure responsible use of our resources and to ensure that we maintain the Catholicity which is at the heart of our mission as Catholic educators.

The 2018-2022 PVNC Board of Trustees have their first picture taken as a group during the Inaugural Board Meeting at The Mount in Peterborough on Dec. 4, 2018

“I thank you for your generous service and for your willingness to ensure that fairness and transparency and faithfulness to our calling are at the heart of everything that we do.”

During Tuesday’s meeting, trustees were also appointed to standing and ad-hoc Board committees.