Foothills School Division trustees will sit together today to decide whether they are going to add an addition to their flock.
It’s likely the four sitting-trustees will approve adding another trustee for Okotoks bringing up the trustees’ numbers to six after the Oct. 16 municipal election.
The Town of Okotoks has had one trustee on the five-person board ever since school divisions were realigned in 1995.
It was a workable arrangement, but with Okotoks growing faster than a Grade 1 student’s feet, the Okotoks ward quickly outgrew the four smaller wards.
At present, the Okotoks ward consists of about 41 per cent of the entire division.
Trustees have always taken a one-for-all, all-for-one approach but perception is everything.
When talk was rampant of a high school moving to Aldersyde last year, the division received criticism about Okotoks not having enough of a voice.
Present Okotoks trustee Laurie Copland, who is on personal leave, has been a strong voice for Okotoks. However, adding an additional voice will provide more than volume. It will give fresh ideas and ensure the people of Okotoks are getting the representation their numbers warrant.
