We acknowledge that we are learning, and perhaps more importantly, unlearning, on the traditional, unceded, and contemporary lands of the Secwepémc people. We are immensely grateful to work with the Adams Lake Indian Band, Neskonlith Indian Band, Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl’ecw, and Splatsin, as the inherent rights holders of this beautiful place. They have gifted us with our new District name – K̓wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl’ecw – which means that we are all connected, the people (quelmúcw), the land (tmicw), the water (séwllkwe), and the animals (mescén̓), on Secwepémc land.
The next General Local Election for School Trustee of the Board of Education of School District No. 83 (K̓wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl’ecw) will be held on October 17, 2026.
School Trustees are elected for a four-year term with elections occurring at the same time as the Local Government elections. The Board of Education's five seats are distributed across four trustee electoral areas:
- Area 1 - City of Armstrong/Township of Spallumcheen/Falkland, Silver Creek, Ranchero (Area D - CSRD) - 1 Trustee
- Area 2 - City of Enderby/Malakwa (Area E - CSRD)/District of Sicamous/Mara, Grindrod, Mabel Lake (Area F - RDNO) – 1 Trustee
- Area 3 - North Shuswap, Sorrento, Carlin (Areas C & F - CSRD)– 1 Trustee
- Area 4 - Salmon Arm – 2 Trustees
What Does a School Trustee Do?
School Trustees are members of a school district's Board of Education. They are locally elected representatives of the public and act as advocates for public education in their community.
Trustees are required to carry out their responsibilities in accordance with the School Act, supporting the board in fulfilling its mandated duties.
The role of a School Trustee includes:
- Maintaining a focus on student achievement and well‑being
- Participating in decision‑making that benefits the entire school district
- Representing the interests and perspectives of their local community
- Working collaboratively with fellow trustees and district leadership
Trustees act as a corporate board. Individual trustees do not have decision-making authority on their own and they participate in decision-making that benefits the entire school district and represents the interests of the entire electorate, no matter which electoral area they were elected from.
British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA) Candidates Guide
Based on BCSTA’s recent survey findings (2025), trustees report spending an average of about 15 hours per week on trustee responsibilities. This time includes preparing for and attending board and committee meetings, representing the Board at community events, and responding to community questions and concerns.
The 2026-27 Board Meeting schedule is available on the District webpage: 2026-27-Board-Meeting-Schedule.pdf.
For information on Board Committees please visit the Board Committees webpage.
Key Election Dates
Election period begins | January 1, 2026 |
Pre-campaign period begins | July 20, 2026 |
Deadline for voter registration with Elections BC (Voters may still register with their local government) | August 18, 2026 |
Nomination period begins | September 1, 2026 |
Close of nominations | September 11, 2026 |
Campaign period begins | September 19, 2026 |
Advance Voting Day | October 7, 2026 |
General Voting Day | October 17, 2026 |
Disclosure statement filing deadline | January 15, 2027 |
Qualifications for Office
- Canadian citizen;
- 18 years of age or older on general voting day;
- resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day nomination papers are filed; and
- Not disqualified under the School Act or any other enactment from being nominated for, being elected to or holding office as a trustee, or be otherwise disqualified by law.
Employees of the Board of Education must take a leave of absence starting on the first day of the nomination period and must resign if elected.
There is no requirement to live within the school district or electoral area. Candidates may only run in one electoral area.
Role of a School Trustee
School trustees are locally elected officials who govern the public education system in their district. Trustees are responsible and accountable to:
- Set Strategic Direction - School trustees work with their board to develop the district’s strategic plan, the roadmap for student success that guides decisions, priorities, and resource allocation.
- Govern Finances Responsibly - School trustees oversee significant public funds, approve annual budgets and capital plans, and ensure every dollar supports student learning, well-being, and district goals.
- Hire & Support Leadership - School trustees appoint the superintendent and ensure effective systems are in place, without managing day-to-day operations or individual staff.
- Improving Student Achievement - The core responsibility of a school trustee is to improve student achievement for the communities they represent. Trustees play a vital role in shaping the conditions that allow every student to thrive. As elected representatives of their communities, trustees are ultimately accountable for ensuring that the decisions made at the board table translate into improved outcomes for the students they serve, from the policies they set to the resources they prioritize.
- Champion Your Community - School trustees work alongside parents, First Nation communities, local governments, and organizations to strengthen public education for all.
- Make Collective Decisions - School trustees debate ideas, vote on direction, and uphold board decisions, even when they personally disagree. This requires a fundamental shift in mindset. As a trustee, you are an individual elected by your community - but you govern as part of a corporate board that speaks with one voice. Once a decision is made, it belongs to the board, not to any single member. A trustee who voted in the minority carries the same responsibility for the success of that decision as every other board member. Authority rests with the board, not with individual trustees, and the board’s credibility depends on each member honouring that principle.
District Overview
SD83 is located on the traditional territory of the Secwépemc people and encompasses the beautiful geographic area around Shuswap Lake and the valleys of Enderby and Armstrong. The 25 schools, located in the communities of Armstrong, Enderby, Falkland, Grindrod, Silver Creek, Ranchero, Salmon Arm, Canoe, Tappen, Sicamous, Sorrento, and Celista, are surrounded by lakes rivers, mountains and agricultural areas where all manner of wildlife thrives.
Our Mission: Empowering students to become confident, curious, and caring individuals who thrive in their learning, relationships, and community.
Our Vision: Preparing students to become educated citizens who contribute to a dynamic, sustainable, and diverse world.
Our Values: Belonging, Respect, Reconciliation, Empathy, Equity, Perseverance.
The Board of Education's 2023-2028 Strategic Plan sets out the district's priorities for improving student achievement, well-being, and equity in alignment with the provincial mandates (e.g. Enhancing Student Learning Report).
- Annual Budget: Approximately $112 million (for 2026-2027). The school district's budget allocates resources to support student learning and strategic priorities.
- Students and Schools: SD83 serves about 6,500 students in 25 schools across a large geographic region. Salmon Arm urban and rural schools are moving into year two of a three-year reconfiguration plan. The reconfiguration transition provides a phased approach for moving to a K-7, 8-12 configuration in the Salmon Arm area between 2025 and 2028.
- Employees: The District employs approximately 1,600 staff (including teachers, support staff, and administrators) to deliver public education in the region.
Resources
Trustee Remuneration
As per Board Policy 136 Trustee Remuneration and Expenses:
In accordance with the provisions of the School Act, a Board may authorize, through a Board resolution, the payment of remuneration and reasonable allowance for expenses incurred by trustees in the discharge of their duties.
Remuneration is paid on a monthly basis. As of December 1, 2025, the base remuneration rates are:
- Chairperson of the Board - $20,472
- Vice Chairperson of the Board - $18,610
- Trustees - $16,748
In recognition of the additional travel required of Trustees responsible for the rural zones, additional annual remuneration is provided as follows:
- North Shuswap, Sorrento, Carlin - $500
- Sicamous, Malakwa, Enderby, Grindrod - $500
- Armstrong, Spallumcheen, Falkland, Silver Creek, Ranchero - $500
Trustee remuneration is reviewed annually, and an adjustment may be made to the base remuneration amount only, effective December 1st of each year. The adjustment will reflect the BC Consumer Price Index change.
Running for School Trustee
To be eligible as a candidate for school trustee in a local government election, at the time of nomination, you must meet ALL of the criteria listed under the Qualifications for Office, above.
Employees of the Board of Education must take a leave of absence starting on the first day of the nomination period and must resign if elected.
There is no requirement to live within the school district or electoral area. Candidates may only run in one electoral area.
The following documents contain information about the role of trustees and the election process. Please check our website regularly for additional information as it becomes available.
Resources and Important Links
School District No. 83 (K̓wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl’ecw) Resources
- District Strategic Plan 2023-2028
- Policy Manual
- Board Work Plan
Important Links
- British Columbia School Trustees Association Candidates Guide
- BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA)
- BLOG: On Education Canada
- BLOG: Culture of Yes - Chris Kennedy
- Elections BC
- General Local Elections
- Local Government Act
- Local Election Campaign Financing Act
- School Act
- Serve, Lead, Inspire - Your Guide to Becoming a School Trustee
Additional Resources
- B.C. School Trustees - Putting Students First
- Characteristics of Effective Locally Elected Officials
- Guide to Local Elections Campaign Financing in BC for Candidates and their Financial Agents
Contact Information
Chief Elections Officer: Veronica Deacon, Manager, Business Administration of School District No. 83 (K̓wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl’ecw)
3412 Shuswap Street SW
Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4N2
Phone: 250-804-7830
Email: Veronica Deacon
Nomination Package Information
Those interested in running as a School Trustee candidate in the 2026 General Local Election can download a School Trustee Nomination Package. If you wish to pick up a nomination package, you can do so starting Monday, August 24, 2026, at 8:00 am, at the School Board Office, 341 Shuswap Street SW, Salmon Arm, BC.
The period to file nomination documents is from 9:00 am on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 until 4:00 pm on Friday, September 11, 2026.
Notices, Information, and Candidates
In accordance with the Local Government Act's prescribed timelines, School District No. 83 (K̓wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl’ecw) will post notices and information for candidates and voters here, including:
- Notice of Nominations
- 2026 Trustee Election Candidates
- Declaration of Elections by Voting or Acclamation
- Notice of Elections by Voting
Declaration of Election by Acclamation: Pursuant to section 98 of the Local Government Act, the Chief Election Officer of School District No. 83 (K̓wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl’ecw) will declare the candidates in the 2026 School Trustee election to be elected by acclamation.
Nomination documents may be viewed by clicking on the candidate’s name.
Trustee Electoral Areas
Candidates
By Voting/Acclamation
Trustee Election Area 1
TBA (Click to access nomination package)
TBA (Elected by Nomination/Elected by Acclamation)
Trustee Election Area 3
Trustee Election Area 4
Elections BC Financial Requirements and Reporting
Elections BC will manage the financial requirements and reporting for all election candidates as per the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act. For more info call 1-855-952-0280. For clear step-by-step information about campaign financing, expense limits, and third-party sponsors, see the following selection of Elections BC’s guides:
- Guide to Local Elections Campaign Financing in B.C. for Candidates and their Financial Agents
- Guide to Local Elections Campaign Financing in B.C. for Elector Organizations and their Financial Agents
- Handbook for Local Candidates
Elections BC will manage the financial requirements and reporting for all election candidates as per the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act. For more info call 1-855-952-0280.