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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
In perhaps one of the most interesting turnarounds in Yellowknife Catholic school board history, a non-Catholic has been selected to lead the board over the next three years.

Fellow trustees voted to make Simon Taylor, who is entering his second term on the school board, its chairperson at its inaugural board meeting last week.

"I don't think so," said Taylor, an Anglican, when asked whether he felt being a non-Catholic would be an issue for the school district.

"There is not a lot of difference in fact between the Church of England and Catholic Church. I'm fully supportive and that's why I joined the board in the first place for the great Catholic education process and their rights and great faith achieved through that process. I'm there to support it as best as I can."

Taylor added he attends St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Parish with his wife, who is Catholic.

The Yellowknife Catholic school board tried to bar non-Catholics from seeking election to the board in 2006 when another non-Catholic trustee and former student of the district, Amy Hacala-Simpson, sought re-election. The board was ultimately forced to accept non-Catholics on the board after losing a challenge in court of territorial legislation permitting non-Catholics to seek trustee positions. Hacala-Simpson was elected to a third term, along with Taylor, on the seven-person board in the Oct. 15 municipal election.

As chairperson, Taylor is coming into a position that has been under great scrutiny since Mary Vane held the position.

"We're moving on beyond the controversy of the last term," said Taylor, in reference to the crisis that erupted in the Catholic schools community after the board, under Vane, attempted to dismiss longtime employee Johnnie Bowden, the school district's assistant superintendent of learning, and not to renew superintendent Claudia Parker's contract.

"I'm the only one left from the previous board. The rest of the people are new so they're bringing new ideas and new concerns to the board. So we'll be looking at those. Everyone is fresh and energetic and I think optimistic for this term and the future of the district," said Taylor.

"The board is enthusiastic about being publicly open as possible and transparent in everything that we do. We'll be looking at policies to ensure that that takes place. If the board has lost some credibility, we will be looking to rebuild that with the community with the administration, and staff and so on. Our concern, and this is the most important thing, is that we're looking to take the focus off the district and the board and putting it back where it belongs on the education process."

John Dalton, one of the most vocal opponents of the board's attempt to remove Bowden and Parker, was appointed vice-chair of the board last week.

Taylor said the Catholic school system is one of inclusiveness, not exclusivity and everyone is welcome.

"We're very supportive of the district and looking forward to working with the district and mucking it in together," said Taylor.

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