Catholic board chair, vice-chair elected

John Grisé and Theresa Pinder were selected as chair and vice-chair of the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board of Trustees, at the board's inaugural meeting on Dec. 5.

Grisé and Pinder, who have been involved in Catholic education for a number of years, will serve in their respective positions for the 2008 board year.

Grisé served as a trustee with the board from 1995 to 1997, and returned to serve in 2003, representing Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny and Tay.

He also served as vicechair over the past year. Grisé lives in Midland, is married and has six daughters, all of whom have attended Catholic schools in Midland.

Grisé declared a strong commitment to Catholic education in his address to the board.

"It is a great honour to have been selected as chairman of this board. I am confident that with the help of my fellow trustees, and especially with the support of the vice-chair, that I will be able to represent the board in a manner worthy of it," he said.

"I am extremely fortunate to be able to work along side a group of strong, very capable trustees who are similarly committed to our most important group - our students. One of our key challenges in the year ahead is to make Catholic education relevant, not only to Catholics, but to everyone, to society as a whole."

Pinder, who resides in Collingwood, represents the Catholic communities of Clearview, Collingwood, Springwater and Wasaga Beach.

Theresa has been a trustee with the board since 2000. She is married and has a daughter and two sons, all of who are graduates of Catholic schools in Collingwood.

"I am deeply committed to working as hard in the role of vice-chair, as I did in the roll of trustee for Catholic education," she said. "I am honoured to represent my community and to work tirelessly for the whole board. I hope to be supportive of our new chairman and my fellow trustees and I will continue to support the children we serve."

Rick Maloney, the outgoing chair, expressed his confidence in the new leadership.

"I am very pleased with our new leadership. I have had the privilege of working very closely with Grisé over the past year in his role as vice-chair and was hoping that he would take up this leadership opportunity," he said. "I know that he and Pinder will serve the board and our Catholic communities extremely well in the coming year."

The board is currently comprised of eight trustees. In addition to Grisé and Pinder, the other members include Diana Riffert, Justin Heran, Jim Canning, Clayton Ferguson, Maloney and Connie Positano.

Katie Murray, a student from St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School, is the current student trustee.

The Board has a current enrolment of about 22,000 students in 42 elementary schools and nine secondary schools in an area that extends from Bradford to Huntsville.