KSB commissioners chose new leaders

The Kativik School Board’s new executive committee, from left: president Johnny Kasudluak, executive member Martin Scott, vice-president Annie Alaku, executive member Thomassie Mangiuk and KRG representative Allan Brown. (PHOTO BY KAUDJAK PADLAYAT/KSB)

The Kativik School Board has a new president.

Johnny Kasudluak, the new school board commissioner for Inukjuak, was elected to lead the council of commissioners Dec. 7.

Kasudluak ran against Akulivik commissioner Markusie Qinuajuaq for the presidency, and received twice as many votes.

Kasudluak, a trained chef and former police officer, ran for the Green Party in the last federal election, losing to Abitibi-James Bay-Nunavik-Eeyou NDP MP Romeo Saganash.

“The future of Nunavik revolves around education,” Kasudluak said in a KSB press release, pledging to tackle high student drop-out rates in Nunavik and the preservation of Inuit culture and language.

Salluit commissioner Annie Alaku, a long-time educator and school administrator, was elected as the council’s new vice-president, while Aupaluk’s Martin Scott and Ivujivik’s Thomassie Mangiuk were also elected to executive committee.

Only KSB commissioners vote to fill executive council positions.

The fifth member of the KSB’s executive committee, Kativik Regional Government representative Allan Brown, has filled that position since September.

The KSB’s council of commissioners has a new look since its recent Nov. 16 election, when all but three communities voted in new faces to represent them on education issues.

The new council of commissioners’ term goes until 2014.