Van Alphen returned as Okanagan Skaha school board chair

PENTICTON – The Okanagan Skaha school board met for their inaugural meeting of the school year this week and returned Linda Van Alphen to the position of board chair.

Van Alphen was acclaimed in the trustee vote Monday, Dec. 12, as was Bill Bidlake in his role as vice-chair.

“I am really happy to be back in the role of chair, specifically because in early 2017 we will have completed a strategic plan which will be reflective of input from our entire learning community,” Van Alphen said.

In regular meeting business, the board approved a policy regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. It will be sent to all partner groups for approval prior to returning to the board on Feb. 1, 2017.  The board also approved an update to the district code of conduct. It will go to partner groups and return to the board Feb. 1.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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