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FRIDAYAUGUST 9
COUNCIL: Was the core services review worth the cost?
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Jasper Yip to play Artspace
Body of missing woman found Boaz JOSEPH/Black Press Cloverdale Spurs’ Russel Young beats Zach Schwab of the Prince George Knights to second base during a Mosquito AAA Tier 1 game at Cloverdale Ball Park on Aug. 3. Story on Page B6.
Will Victoria deal directly with teachers’ union? Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com A government appointment last week has the chair of the School District 57 Board of Education questioning the future. On July 31, the provincial government appointed Michael Marchbank as a public administrator for the B.C. Public School Employers Association (BCPSEA), the body which bargained with employee groups on behalf of the school districts. According to a government press release, the move “will ensure government can advance its plans to restructure the K-12 bargaining process and its mandate to secure a long-term deal with the British Columbia Teachers Federation (BCTF).” Local board chair Sharel Warrington says it’s unclear exactly what the appointment means. “I interpret it as negotiations will be directly between the government and the teachers union. What exactly that will look like remains to be seen.”
Since the Liberal government advanced the idea of a long-term (10 years being the most common length mentioned) contract with the BCTF, Warrington says the question had been, “how long they remained at arm’s length from the bargaining.” Although many people probably think of the BCPSEA as just being the boards of education bargaining group, Warrington says the group does much more. “The BCPSEA plays a very strong advisory role to boards. They have a lot of expertise, and many resources in areas such as hiring, health and safety. and benefits. “I hope they will continue in that role.” Coming in the middle of summer, the appointment is also causing problems for boards trying to figure out what it means for them. “At this point,” Warrington says, “the role of the board of education is not clear. “I’m trying to get a meeting with the trustees organized, but it’s summer, people are on holidays, and it’s tough even just getting a quorum. “We need to have a meeting, though, because we haven’t had a chance locally to discuss the roles we will play now.”
The body of a woman reported missing in Stoner has been found near her home. On Aug. 2 Prince George RCMP were notified that 46-year-old Leslie Anne Pocha was found deceased at a rural location near her home in Stoner, B.C. The Prince George RCMP Serious Crime Unit, with assistance of the Forensic Identification Section, were called in to investigate. Although foul play is not suspected in the death, the RCMP and the BC Coroners Service continue to investigate. On August 1, the Prince George RCMP received a report that POCHA had not been seen since the evening of Wednesday July 31. Stoner is located approximately 30 kilometres south of Prince George along Highway 97.
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