CSF School Board Elections 2022: Why vote in the elections? And why become a candidate?

The elections for the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CSF), taking place on October 15, 2022, are of great importance to the entire BC Francophone community.

The Trustees elected on that date will form the Board of Trustees who will govern the CSF over the next four years. The decisions made by this Board will have a direct impact on the management and development of BC's Francophone schools, and therefore on the French-language education of current and future generations in our province.

If you think that these elections affect only the parents of children attending CSF schools, think again! Parents of preschool-aged children, school staff, young people who will be 18 years of age or older at the time of the election, community members (with or without children): any eligible person who meets the eligibility criteria¹ and who is a member of the CSF on June 17, 2022 has the right to vote.

Talk to others about it, because your network might include people who don't know they can become a member and vote in the CSF school board elections!

 

 

Do you know if you are a member?
If you received an email from the CSF during the first week of May about the 2022 school board elections, you are already a member in good standing. In the fall, you will receive your ballot by email.

If you thought you were a member but did not receive this email, check to see if you are on the membership list by writing to adhesion@csf.bc.ca.

It’s important to note that you must be a member in good standing by June 17, 2022 to be able to vote. For more information on this subject, please contact Ms. Coralie Mpoyo by email at adhesion@csf.bc.ca, or by phone at 604-214-2636.

 

Becoming a member: a very simple process
A person who meets the eligibility criteria¹ but is not yet a member can become a member easily (and free of charge): simply download and complete the membership form, then return it to the CSF by email at adhesion@csf.bc.ca. The form and all relevant information (including eligibility criteria) can be found on the csf.vote web page.

• Can both parents of a student at a CSF school become members?
  • Yes: any parent, Francophone or non-Francophone, whose child attends a Francophone school has the right to vote in CSF school board elections.
• Can students vote?
  • Any CSF student who turns 18 by October 15, 2022 can become a member and vote. Why not encourage your young person to take this community-minded action?

 

Becoming a candidate for the position of CSF Trustee: why and how?

As stipulated in the BC School Act, all school boards are governed by a Board of Trustees composed of School Trustees. Elected to represent the public, these individuals advocate for public education in their communities.

In the case of CSF Trustees, their role is particularly important given the dual mandate of CSF schools, which is both educational and community-based. And the future of our Francophone community is certainly being decided in our schools!

To learn more about the responsibilities of CSF Trustees, we invite you to read the related CSF policy (in French). And to learn more about the role of Trustees, you can also consult the Guide for School Trustee Candidates prepared by the British Columbia School Trustees Association.

Interested in running for a position as a Trustee in one of the seven administrative regions of the CSF? You need to download and complete the Regional Trustee Candidate Information Package (in French), then send it to the CSF Secretary-Treasurer at elections@csf.bc.ca. Note that applications will be accepted from July 14 to August 1, 2022.

 

 

A community initiative encourages participation in the CSF school board elections

Various Francophone organizations have decided to join the CSF efforts to promote greater community participation during the October 15 school board election.

The initiative brings together the Fédération des parents francophones de Colombie-Britannique, the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique, the Conseil jeunesse francophone de la Colombie-Britannique, Réseau-Femmes Colombie-Britannique, the Syndicat des enseignantes et enseignants du programme francophone de la C.-B., as well as the Syndicat des employé·es de soutien du CSF.

All of these organizations believe that the school board elections are a crucial time for members of their respective networks to make their voices heard and to decide on the direction the CSF will take over the next four years.

 

Voting in the CSF school board elections: it’s everybody’s responsibility, because our future is at stake in our schools!

 

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¹ The eligibility criteria for membership and voting in CSF school board elections can be found on the csf.vote web page