Public education has been in Kimberley Kiel’s blood for as long as she can remember. She just didn’t expect to further her involvement quite yet.
Come December however, the Balgonie-raised entrepreneur will do just that as the new Prairie Valley School Division trustee for Subdivision 9.
Kiel was voted onto the local school board after winning a four-way race in a by-election Nov. 15 and will fill the seat that was vacated by the death of Frank Thauberger in June.
Her nomination was endorsed by Thauberger’s widow Ruth, and Kiel received 171 votes — over 60 per cent of the 283 ballots cast — to win the race over Core Ag owner Nolan Elford (62 votes), newly-minted RM of Edenwold Councillor Carmen Leibel (23 votes) and SaskTel corporate services manager Dylan Storle (23 votes).
Among her duties, she will represent Balgonie Elementary School, Greenall School, Edenwold School and Pilot Butte School.
“It was kind of on my radar, but I certainly hadn’t expected it would be at this juncture, but sometimes thing just happen and there was a need to be filled,” Kiel told The Forum in an interview following the by-election.
“I’m really excited for the opportunity.”
Kiel said she joined the Balgonie elementary School Community Council when her eldest son started kindergarten. Previously, she had attended high school at Greenall, where she said her father Wayne was also a teacher, and her two sons — now in Grade 9 and Grade 12 — attend Greenall as well.
As part of Balgonie Elementary School’s SCC, she also served on the fundraising committee for the outdoor ninja warrior-style fitness gym that opened there last summer.
“I’m a huge believer in the power of education in all facets and all the way through our lives … and I’m a really strong supporter of public education being offered to our students,” said Kiel. “I feel extra-curricular activities are also an important part of that because so much of what happens at school isn’t just in math and English.”
As a PVSD board member, she added, her priorities will include continuing to grow an inclusive environment for all students and helping monitor progress on a previously announced renovation and expansion project for Greenall. School division data shows Greenall was home to 727 students as of Sept. 30, making it the largest school within PVSD by over 23 per cent.
Kiel is scheduled to be sworn into office at Prairie Valley’s next board meeting Dec. 13.
