WEYBURN – It’s an award for individual achievement within the ranks of the city and regional school boards spread across the province. But for Audrey Trombley, the recipient of the long-standing Award of Distinction, it is one she would more readily like to share with the entire South East Cornerstone Public School Division’s board of trustees.
“I see it as more of an award for the entire board rather than just one person,” Trombley said during an interview following the Saskatchewan School Board Association’s award presentations held in Regina last month during their fall conference.
Trombley, along with Lloydminster trustee David Thompson, were the recipients of the individual awards while the Northern Lights School Division board received the group award for innovation and excellence for their pursuit of an increased and improved route towards Indigenous studies.
Trombley was nominated for the award by the South East Cornerstone Public School Division’s board of trustees. She said it “was refreshing to know that after all these years and the 14 years as board chair, the board still supports me.”
Asked how she found the strength to continue in the leadership role over a length of time, she said. “I guess maybe I’m not afraid to speak up when I believe things need to be addressed. I also believe that nobody achieves excellence on their own. It takes a team to make a difference and every board member is an important member representing the voice of their communities. Locally elected boards are key in providing quality education in our diverse province.”
Trombley said she has been fortunate to be able to work with outstanding board members and administration through the years while maintaining respectful relationships.
Her leadership qualities maybe come from the fact that she had learned some valuable lessons on that topic while taking a trustee development training course at Humber College back in 2003 prior to running for the position as a rural trustee in 2003. She was then elected chairwoman at the first meeting of an amalgamated board of the Weyburn Rural and Radville School Divisions, and then within the SECPSD structure following further provincially-mandated educational system mergers. She added, “I also worked as an administrator for 40 years so I’m comfortable with elected boards and governance models.”
Trombley said she has started keeping a log or journal of her board chairwoman activities since she feels that within a few months she will be able to include current board vice-chairwoman Megan Schick in as many activities as allowed and then “I will not let my name stand for the final two years of my term.”
That decision has been made more firmly since Trombley has faced a series of medical challenges for the past two years, starting with an infection that came about following a minor surgical procedure in February 2022. The super infection spread and eventually led to the amputation of part of her right leg and a further amputation was administered in August of last year. She was pleased to report that after being a wheelchair user since the second session, she was to be the recipient of a prosthetic leg and hopefully would be able to walk with some aid within a few weeks following therapy and training.
In the meantime, the SECPSD chairwoman is not going to just sit in a wheelchair, or sit on her laurels either.
“We will continue to lobby for education funding. We understand the next provincial budget will include additional funds for classroom complexity and we hope that comes to fruition.”
The newly-launched provincial Education Plan is now a work in progress and there were no surprises for SECPSD since the plan’s outcomes aligned with the regional board’s ongoing plans and programs, she said.
“I am hopeful the minister of education will consult with the boards when and if there is a situation to be addressed and ensure boards maintain the local autonomy as intended.”
As it turns out now, Trombley is grateful that the current board members are in a supportive mode and she is prepared to lead the educational governance parade forward for the next couple of years.
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