April 9, 2009

SD23 Superintendent Mike Roberts Seconded to BCPSEA

KELOWNA, BC: The Board of School District No. 23 (Central Okanagan) wishes to announce that Superintendent of Schools Mike Roberts has been seconded by the B.C. Public Schools Employers’ Association.  Mr. Roberts will begin working for the BCPSEA on August 1, 2009, as a liaison Superintendent.  The role will include supporting the various aspects of BCPSEA’s human resource management and labour relations work with all 60 B.C. school districts as well as the Ministry of Education.

Board Chairperson Rolli Cacchioni noted that “The Board is sorry to lose Mr. Roberts from School District No. 23, but we can understand the importance of his new role from a provincial perspective.  The Province is at an important crossroads in terms of human resources issues and his varied experience in education will benefit the BCPSEA.  Mr. Roberts has done an excellent job as the Superintendent of Schools.  He has initiated a number of programs and procedures which have enabled our students to be even more successful in terms of Literacy, Numeracy and Graduation Rates.  His leadership will be extensively missed throughout the whole School District No. 23 organization.”

The BCPSEA is the provincial association that coordinates bargaining, labour relations, and personnel management functions on behalf of all public school districts in B.C.  This includes long-range strategic planning, bargaining with the BCTF and support staff unions (e.g. CUPE), succession planning and grievance resolution.  Mr. Roberts’ role will include work on a variety of issues, but will focus on communication with the various professional associations and school districts around the province.

Mr. Roberts began with SD23 in September, 1980 as a teacher at Kelowna Secondary School.  He moved on to work as a Vice-principal, Principal and Director within the School District before becoming Superintendent in May 2006.  His past work included considerable experience leading the District Human Resources department, which oversees hiring, bargaining, secession planning and disability management. 

Noting that the secondment would be for a minimum of two years, Chairperson Cacchioni explained that “The search for a new Superintendent will begin immediately.  We expect to advertise nationally for the new Superintendent and have the selected candidate in place for the start of the 2009/2010 school year.”

Mr. Roberts will remain as Superintendent through to this summer.  There remains significant work to be completed in the coming months that cannot be put on hold until the new Superintendent takes office.  Although School District No. 23 remains one of the top educational jurisdictions in B.C., there are a number of issues and decisions facing the District in the coming weeks.

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For comments, please contact:

Rolli Cacchioni, Chairperson of the Board of Education, (250) 765-3419