b"MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENTIt's been a great honour to serve as vice president of Canadian School Boards Association for the past four years and as I step aside, I reflect back with pride on what the board accomplished during this time.Much of the early part of my tenure as vice president took place at my dining room table, Zoomscreen on, and (hopefully) mute button off, as we navigated what were truly unprecedented timesat the height of the pandemic. CSBA quickly pivoted to ensure our commitments to our strategicpriorities were not affected. Several working groups were created with our presidents andexecutive directors stepping up to keep the work moving forward. We focused on Indigenouseducation and the work needed to support the calls to actions from the Truth and ReconciliationCommission. We undertook a policy review through an anti-racism, diversity, equity andinclusivity lens and we worked at a national level supporting provincial associations in highlightingthe important role of democratically elected boards of education as the local voice in each ofyour communities for public education. At the same time, we worked closely and in cooperation with the Canadian Association of SchoolSystem Administrators, where we met weekly to share provincial and territorial Covid protocols.The ability to share best practices and understand the impacts of Covid allowed boards across thecountry to adjust protocols. As restrictions were lifted CSBA travelled to the US National School Boards Association Annualmeeting to present on Indigenous education. We also committed to an annual advocacy day onParliament Hill where we continue to meet with Members of Parliament, Senators and seniorbureaucrats on issues such connectivity, importance of minority language rights, copyright,Indigenous education, student mental health, and a national school food program among otheradvocacy priorities. One of the things of which I am most proud is the National Reconciliation Partnership Award,which is being presented for the first time this year at the 2024 National Trustees Gathering onIndigenous Education and CSBA Congress. Without the determination, and commitment of DarrenMcKee and Josh Watt this award would not have come to fruition. Their hard work has created theopportunity for CSBA to highlight the amazing work that is being done by boards of education andrights holders."