A newcomer to school board topped the polls in the District of North Vancouver.
Clinical psychologist Jessica Stanley garnered more votes than any other school board candidate and all but four council and mayoralty candidates across the North Shore.
Stanley's campaign focused on under-funded schools and overburdened classrooms but she put her strongest emphasis on stewarding greater communication within the community and between levels of government. "I think the public really needs to know those decisions: when we're having to cut from counselling, when we're having to cut from classrooms, when we're increasing class size," she said following the election.
If North Vancouver voters are aware of why their children's school doesn't have covered playgrounds or how often a classroom is actually cleaned, they may be more mindful of education when casting ballots in federal and provincial elections, according to Stanley.
Incumbents Barry Forward, Cyndi Gerlach and Franci Stratton will join Stanley in representing the district.
Incumbents Susan Skinner and Christie Sacre will join new trustee Megan Higgins in representing the City of North Vancouver on the school board.
Higgins campaigned on hiring principals and vice-principals who can cultivate a supportive work environment.
"Right now (teachers) are overstretched, they feel unsupported and not respected," she said.
