There was very little fanfare Monday night when Merrin Nuc learned she was the unofficial winner of the St. Albert Protestant School Board’s byelection for a new trustee.
Instead, Nuc, who had been out shopping with a friend, simply stopped by the board office on Sir Winston Churchill Avenue and read the results, which were posted on the door.
“Then I went home and there were a ton of messages from friends who had read it online on the board’s website,” said Nuc.
The results are not official until Friday at noon, but the vote tally appears conclusive. Nuc garnered 152 votes, Kim Bugeaud had 65 and Judy Huisman had 41.
Nuc, 65, is a retired teacher who taught in St. Albert at Muriel Martin, W.D. Cuts and Sir George Simpson schools. She is a lifelong St. Albert resident and graduated from Paul Kane’s first gradating class.
“A lot of people know me from when I was a teacher, plus I did a lot of networking. I phoned people and asked them to phone people, and so on,” she said.
Though she retired in June, Nuc anticipates her new position as trustee will put her back to work in the education field that she loves.
“I think it will be at least 20 to 30 hours per week with reading, attending meetings, the school parent council meetings and educational conferences,” she said.
“I have a lot to learn but I’ll do the best job that I possibly can. Education is my passion.”
She is hopeful that her teaching experience will provide balance on the board of trustees.
“I have knowledge of what happens in the classroom. I’m hoping this brings balance with three trustees with an educational background and two with a public background,” Nuc said.
The turnout was small for the byelection, with just 258 votes cast.
“The cost of the byelection will be released in January,” said Paula Powers, communication co-ordinator for St. Albert Protestant Schools.
Nuc will be sworn in at the regular board meeting on Dec. 14.
