An orientation program awaits the new superintendent of schools Kevin Kaardal.
(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)
September 04, 2015 - 12:09 PM
KELOWNA - There’s a change in command coming at the Central Okanagan school district but outgoing superintendent Hugh Gloster says his successor will be well supported during the transition.
“The plan is for me to continue to manage operational issues of the district until close to the end of the year," he says. "There’s a whole program of orientation planned for him. He will try to meet and spend time each member of senior staff and visit all the schools."
Gloster is entering his final school year, officially leaving Dec. 31 after 36 years with the Central Okanagan school district including the last six years as superintendent of schools.
His successor Kevin Kardaal, former superintendent of the Burnaby school district, officially starts Oct. 21 but has already been in the Central Okanagan several times.
“This isn’t his home turf, so he will be learning about the district geography, the challenges in demographics, hot spots, key issues, those sorts of things,” Gloster says.
His decision to give up the superintendent’s position was based in part on upcoming changes in education such as the introduction of the revamped B.C. curriculum.
“There’s lots of changes coming up in public education. I felt if I stayed on, it would be for some time so I could be part of that or give it up and let the next generation take over.”
As superintendent, Gloster oversees almost 22,000 students in 43 schools with over 1,200 teachers and a budget of $220 million. For that, he earns about $177,000 annually.
To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015