The Burnaby Teachers’ Association has a new president.
Rae Figursky, currently a math teacher at Alpha Secondary, will take the helm July 1, after being elected at the local union’s annual general meeting at Moscrop Secondary Tuesday.
Figursky will steer the association through what promises to be a challenging year, with teacher job action already underway and rotating strikes looming if provincial talks don’t move forward.
Outgoing president James Sanyshyn, who will step down after two years in the post, added anticipated budget cuts over the next two years and the municipal elections in November to the list of challenges Figursky will face.
Sanyshyn said it will fall to Figursky and the new executive to decide whether or not to endorse trustee candidates among the Burnaby Citizens Association, which currently dominates the school board, or the new Burnaby First Coaltion, a collection of former Burnaby Parents Voice, Green Party and Burnaby TEAM members that Sanyshyn called “very bizarre bedfellows.”
“I wish the next group of people, who are stewarding us through difficult times, the best of luck,” Sanyshyn told the NOW.
Figursky, however, is no rookie.
A BTA past president from the 1990s, she has been involved with the local executive on and off for the last four or five years, according to Sanyshyn, mostly in the role of secretary.
Tuesday’s meeting, attended by about 260 teachers, also saw Frank Bonvino acclaimed as first-vice president, Moscrop teacher Leanne Sjodin elected as second vice-president, Stride teacher Sharon Freeman elected as secretary, and hospital and homebound teacher Patti Jukes acclaimed as treasurer.
Jennifer Heighton (Nelson) and Toni Grewal (Burnaby South) were acclaimed as elementary and secondary reps respectively.
Burnaby South teacher on call Shanee Prasad was acclaimed as the BTA’s Vancouver district labour rep.
Daniel Tétrault (Moscrop), Richard Storch (Burnaby North) and Trina Moulin (Byrne Creek) were elected as local reps.
