Education Minister Mike Bernier has appointed Liz Watson as a special advisor in School District No. 83 to review board activities and make recommendations for moving forward in the wake of the recent resignation of three trustees.

The special advisor has been appointed at the request of the North-Okanagan Shuswap school board.

“We’ve heard from the board and from parents in the community that the public has to have confidence in the board and its work,” Bernier said. “The appointment of Liz Watson to look at everything the board is doing will help set the North-Okanagan Shuswap district on a path that rebuilds confidence.”

The special advisor will develop a report with both findings and recommendations for School District No. 83 that will look at a number of issues, including:

• governance practices – including capacity, structure, and culture
• board relationships with district management and with external stakeholders
• board accountability and evaluation mechanisms
• budgeting processes
• capital planning

The special advisor’s report is due back to the Ministry of Education by May 20, 2016. District No. 83 will have to formally respond to the special advisor’s report with an action plan.

Quick Facts:

• Liz Watson is president and CEO of Watson Inc. of Vancouver and has more than 30 years experience as a lawyer and more than a decade as a leading advisor to boards, committees and CEOs.
• Watson Inc. regularly advises clients on governance effectiveness, board and executive recruitment and succession, effective board practices, governance training, board, director, CEO evaluations, and CEO and executive recruiting.