Stan Petersen Appointed Chair of Abbotsford Board of Education

Trustee Stan Petersen has been appointed as the new chair of the Abbotsford Board of Education, succeeding Shirley Wilson, who held the position since February 2024. Wilson’s term followed the resignation of Korky Neufeld, who stepped down to pursue candidacy in the upcoming provincial election.

The board conducts annual elections for its chair and vice-chair. Although Wilson was nominated to continue in her role, she declined and instead nominated Petersen. With no other candidates presented, Petersen was acclaimed into the position. He expressed gratitude, stating, “I’d like to thank my colleagues for the privilege of this position,” and acknowledged Wilson’s three years of service as chair, along with the contributions of past vice-chair Preet Rai.

Petersen has served as a trustee since 2011, having been re-elected consistently. He previously held the chair position in 2022. Following his appointment, trustee Mike Rauch nominated Rupi Kanda-Rajwan for vice-chair, with Wilson nominated by Rai. A secret ballot was conducted, resulting in Wilson’s election to the vice-chair role.

Wilson explained her decision to step down from the chair role was based on personal and professional considerations. She emphasized that external pressures from social media did not influence her choice. “I want to be clear that while there are negative comments on social media for me to step down as board chair, this is not why I stepped away from this role,” she stated. Wilson reaffirmed her commitment to supporting the district, staff, students, and families, highlighting her dedication since her election approximately 20 years ago.

The next meeting of the Abbotsford Board of Education is scheduled for December 9, 2024, where further discussions and plans for the district will be addressed.