The board of education has appointed Nancy Macdonald to take over Elder’s post during his two-year secondment.
Macdonald has been the assistant superintendent for the past seven years.
Board chairman Wayne Hunter said Elder has been assisting the employers’ association with teacher negotiations for the past three months on a part-time basis.
“They decided this is the guy they want to second for the next two years to help them in that process, which was moving along quite well,” Hunter said. “I think everybody was feeling quite good about moving forward toward the bigger table of discussions at the provincial level.”
Hunter said talks seem to have been sidetracked somewhat in recent days by Premier Christy Clark’s decision to press for a 10-year agreement. The B.C. Teachers’ Federation reacted angrily after learning of the change through the media, and dismissed Clark’s plan as confusing and shallow.
Hunter said it’s time to end the war of words on both sides.
“We really need to move forward with a little bit less of that stuff,” he said.
Elder said he will work for the employers’ association on all employment-related matters in the education system.
“It’s not just bargaining with teachers, it’s all of the employment relationships that 60 boards have with their employees — management and unionized,” he said. “That became an intriguing prospect. I’ve always really enjoyed the work of human resources and labour relations and felt that the time was right.”
He leaves Saanich in a strong position, he said. “There is a district-wide leadership culture that is one of improvement and innovation and excitement, and that continues with new leadership, especially as it relates to Nancy Macdonald, who’s a star.”
Macdonald plans to continue the district’s focus on innovation, while maintaining the good relationships with teachers, parents, staff and other partner groups, especially during difficult labour negotiations.
“It will be important to keep that culture — the Saanich culture — of good relationships and collaboration,” she said.
Elder said the secondment could end earlier than two years, but that he might retire rather than return to the district.
“We’re treating this as a two-year secondment but with the possibility that I would be done my time in Saanich,” he said.
