MAY 25, 2020 - BARRIE, ON: At the May 20, 2020 Board meeting, The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (SMCDSB) welcomed Ava Melchiorre as its second student trustee.
On April 29, 2020, the student senate elected the Grade 10 student - only the second student trustee to be elected from St. Theresa’s Catholic High School in Midland. Ava will serve alongside current student trustee-elect, Laura Bateman and will begin her two-year term on August 1, 2020.
Bateman, Grade 11 student at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Barrie, has served as student trustee-elect since January. She was elected by the student senate in fall 2019 and will serve for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year as well. Therefore, SMCDSB will commission two new student trustees at the September 2020 Board meeting.
Melchiorre’s strong leadership skills are evident, developed through participation in numerous organizations. She is an active member of her school's Student Council, works as Camp Counsellor for the Township of Springwater, and is currently training for her National Lifeguarding certification. She also attends Ontario Student Leadership Conferences and has participated in several public speaking competitions.
“It is an honour to have been elected to the position of student trustee-elect. I am looking forward to serving as the representative for the students of the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. I am very excited to share various student perspectives and insights with our dedicated Board of Trustees,” Melchiorre remarked.
School boards are now required to have two, but no more than three, student trustees for a two-year term. Laura Bateman is currently serving as student trustee until her term ends at the end of the 2021 school year, and student trustee-elect Ava Melchiorre is also serving a two year term. In Spring 2021, the student senate will elect another student trustee to serve another two-year term. The policy of SMCDSB is designed so that one student trustee is serving their first year, whilst the second-year student trustee serves as mentor.
Ava will be officially commissioned as the student trustee at the first Board meeting in September (date to be confirmed) and will serve until July 31, 2022.
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Media Contact: Pauline Stevenson, Communications Manager 705.722.3555 ext., 229 [email protected]