Committees

The Manitoba Schools Boards Association has established a number of internal standing committees to assist with the regular work of the association. As well, the association is represented on many external standing committees, to ensure that the perspectives of school boards are heard and considered whenever decisions affecting students, schools or education are made. Most committee appointments are for a two-year term, and with some exceptions, committee members are eligible to serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.

This section contains the mandates of the association's standing committees, in alphabetical order, along with the current membership of both internal and external committees. The date of each member's initial appointment is also indicated.

Interested in volunteering for a committee? Download the Committee Volunteer Form, complete it, and submit it as indicated on the form.

Mandate: the Aboriginal and Indigenous Education Planning Committee works in support of the association's goal to contribute to improved educational outcomes for aboriginal learners.

Members:

Holly Hunter, St. James-Assiniboia S.D. (November 2021)
Charlene Gulak (Executive Liaison), Mountain View S.D. (January 2023)
Penny Helgason, Evergreen S.D. (December 2018)
Lisa Makwebak, Park West S.D. (September 2020)
Nicole Chaske, Fort La Bosse S.D. (November 2022)
Charlene Gulak, Mountain View S.D. (Executive liaison) (January 2023)

Mandate: to plan and oversee the delivery of the annual convention of the association. In fulfilling its mandate, the committee will work to advance association objectives and priorities, as established through policy and/or identified by the provincial executive.

Members:

Penny Helgason, Evergreen S.D. (November 2021)
Fred Kelesnik, Red River Valley (January 2023)
Theresa Bergson, Seine River S.D. (November 2022)
Leifa Misko, Mountain View S.D. (November 2022)
Jack Bogaski, Lord Selkirk S.D. (January 2023)
Josh Watt, association staff
Karen Harrington, association staff

Mandate: to oversee and to manage the MSBA/MTS jointly trusteed Dental Plan for school divisions/districts personnel.

Members:
Patricia Wiebe, Border Land S.D. (March 2013)
Yolande Dupuis, DSFM (January 2015)
Keith Morrison, River East Transcona S.D. (November 2022)
Irene Nordheim, Louis Riel S.D. (November 2022)
Morgan Whiteway, association staff

Mandate: to oversee all material aspects of the association`s financial reporting, control and finance functions.

Members: all members of the provincial executive.

Mandate: to oversee and manage the operation of the Manitoba Schools Insurance (MSI).

Members:

Derek Dabee, Seven Oaks S.D. (June 2011)
Yolande Dupuis, DSFM (December 2010)
Fred Kelesnik, Red River Valley S.D. (December 2018)
Caroline Cramer, Brandon S.D. (January 2023)
Rey Toews, Beautiful Plains S.D. (January 2023)
Darren Thomas, association staff

Mandate: to assist participating member school divisions by defraying or covering the legal costs (excluding damages) involved in: protecting and furthering management rights/responsibilities, controlling salary considerations, or other employee/labour matters of provincial or regional implication.

Members:

Region 1 – Gary Wowchuk, Swan Valley S.D.
Region 2 – David Guenther, Western S.D.
Region 3 – Ron Falk, Hanover S.D.
Region 4 – Tim Davies, Flin Flon S.D.
Region 5 – Chipalo Simunyola, Louis Riel S.D. (term position to Nov. 2023)
Region 6 – Dante Aviso, Winnipeg S.D. (term position to Nov. 2023)
Justin Rempel, association staff

Mandate: to ensure that there is at least one qualified candidate who has consented to allow his/her name to stand for each of the following positions at the annual convention of the association: president, vice-president (6,000 students or more), vice-president (fewer than 6,000 students), and regional directors. Committee is comprised of the three (3) most recent past presidents who continue to serve as trustees.

Members:

Floyd Martens, Mountain View S.D. (First Past President)
Robert Rivard, Seine River S.D. (Second Past President)
Yolande Dupuis, DSFM (Third Past President)

Mandate: responsible for the overall administration, maintenance and operation of the MSBA Non-Teaching Employees Pension Fund, the Plan and the Administration Account as a Board of Trustees.

Members:

Colleen Carswell, River East Transcona S.D. (1999)
Patty Wiebe, Border Land S.D. (2018)
Floyd Martens, Mountain View S.D. (2006)
Craig Stahlke, Pembina Trails S.D. (2022)
Sandy Szwaluk, Park West S.D. (2023)
Alison Bourrier, association staff

Mandate: is responsible for the association`s policy development process and seeks to enhance the association's advocacy work on behalf of member school boards.

Members:

Floyd Martens, Mountain View (First Past President)
Robert Rivard, Seine River (Second Past President)
Patty Wiebe, Border Land (February 2019)
Cheryl Smukowich, St. James-Assiniboia (February 2019)
Jack Bogaski, Lord Selkirk S.D. (November 2022)
Josh Watt, association staff

External committees are those structured by agencies and organizations other than MSBA. These committees may be either permanent or ad hoc in nature. Their mandates, terms of reference, and compositions are determined by the sponsoring agency/organization.

Canadian School Boards Association Board of Directors	Sandy Nemeth, President; Josh Watt, Executive Director (ex-officio)
Celebration of Excellence in Teaching Selection Committee	Alan Campbell, Past President
Certificate in School Leadership Review Committee	Janis Arnold, association staff
Certificate Review Committee	Patricia Wiebe, Border Land S.D. (December 2010) Holly Hunter, St. James-Assiniboia S.D. (January 2020) Justin Rempel, association staff (June 2019) (Alternate) Elizabeth Mitchell, association staff (June 2019)
Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba	Wendy Bloomfield, Seine River S.D.
Education Advisory Council	Sandy Nemeth, President
Funding Task Force Review	Sandy Nemeth, President; Alan Campbell, Past President; Floyd Martens, Mountain View S.D.
Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association	Cheryl Smukowich, St. James-Assiniboia S.D. (August 2020)
Manitoba Collaborative Indigenous Education Blueprint Steering Committee	Josh Watt, Executive Director
Manitoba Rural Learning Consortium	Charlene Gulak, Region 1 Director (September 2022)
Prime Minister's Teaching Excellence Awards Selection Committee	Sandy Nemeth, President
Provincial Evaluations Committee	Elizabeth Mitchell, association staff; Chris Huppe (Alternate)
Red River College Teacher and Teaching Assistant Advisory Committee	Janis Arnold, association staff
Red River Métis Education Working Group	TBD
Student Services/Inclusive Education Consultation Committee	Darlene Gerrior, Louis Riel S.D. (November 2022)
University of Manitoba Faculty of Education Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Committees	Josh Watt, Executive Director