HSD chair Unger says first year was a whirlwind
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This article was published 01/09/2024 (311 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Hanover School Division board chair Brad Unger shared how his first year has been, which he desribed as a whirlwind.
“(It’s been) a bit of a whirlwind just because the new position (as chair), even though I have been a trustee for 10 years now, I’ve never been in that position so it’s been a whirlwind. I will tell you this, the rest of the people on the board have held me up. They’ve held me up so it would be very hard to imagine being in this position without the support of the other trustees and senior admin. They’ve been patient and gracious.”
Unger said the highlights for him during the first half of his term was being in a leadership position and having the perspective that comes with that. Other highlights include the growth in the number of students attending Hanover School Division, supports from the government which is appreciated, and seeing the new K-4 Parkhill School breaking ground.
“Hanover is a good place. People want to go school here, people want their kids to go to school here and live here, so being a part of that has been an incredible blessing,” he said.
One of the challenges that Unger faced during his first year was the EA strike that happened last fall where 280 educational assistants went on strike for a 16 percent increase in wages over four years.
“Going through the steps of the first ever strike in Hanover School Division was a real challenge. It gives a person a new perspective on how much we appreciate all the staff that we have and we don’t want anyone to feel like they’re taken for granted,” he said.
Other challenges included adjusting to his new role and the responsibility that comes with it and having to deal with policies and if they’re a fit for the community and adjusting them if needed.
What Unger wished he had known partway into his term was how much he can count on the other trustees.
“You walk through fire with people you see their mettle tested and they come out of that and go, ‘OK, I have a much deeper appreciation for everyone on the board.’”
His hope for the remaining year of his term is for every student to know that they are valued.
“Show me a kid who understands deep down to their core that they are valuable and I’ll show you a kid who showed up for class with a better attitude, a kid who was going to struggle much less with mental health, much less discipline issues.”