Catherine Zaitsoff will serve another year as chair of the Kootenay-Columbia school board.
Trustees were sworn in this week at their inaugural meeting. All nine were elected by acclamation and eight out of nine are incumbents: Kristin Ali, Darrel Ganzert, Terry Hanik, Darilyn Simister, Gordon Smith, Birkley Valks, Mark Wilson, plus Zaitsoff.
They are joined by new trustee Kendra Mann. Beaver Valley trustee Stephen Piccolo did not seen re-election.
Zaitsoff, who has been chair since 2022, was acclaimed to the position. Ganzert, a former board chair, was acclaimed as vice-chair.
“The board thanks the communities of the Kootenay-Columbia school district for their continued trust and support,” the board said in a news release. “With all trustee positions filled by acclamation this fall, the board does not take that trust for granted and remains committed to listening, transparency, and open engagement.”
The board said it would continue to advance goals outlined in its 2025-30 strategic plan, including “student success, policy development, long-range facilities planning, and responsible fiscal stewardship.”
