Once again, School District 57 is on the search for a new Superintendent.
The school board has informed Cindy Heitman that she will not be SD57’s superintendent when students return from spring break.
In a release, the district states Heitman has “left the district.”
She will be replaced by Pam Spooner, Indigenous Assistant Superintendent, as acting Superintendent of Schools.
“We would like to thank Cindy for her 28 years with School District 57, and in particular for the past two years in the Superintendent role,” said Rachael Weber, Board Chair. “We are pleased that Pam has agreed to step in as acting Superintendent as we conduct a search for a new Superintendent. We remain focused on building collaborative relationships with rights holders, partners and stakeholders and working to ensure the District is meeting the needs of students.”
The release makes it sound like Heitman may have decided to step down, but a source inside the district confirmed to My PG Now that the school board voted last night (Thursday) to remove Heitman from the position – and it was not a unanimous choice.
The board also announced that trustee Gillian Burnett has stepped down from her position, which she was first elected to in October 2022.
This will trigger a by-election that will be held at a later date.
Heitman was officially named Superintendent in January 2022 but had been working in the role since the same time in 2021.
She took over for Anita Richardson, who filed a claim related to SD57 with the BC Supreme Court in July, after going on a leave in December of 2020.
The Superintendent has a starting salary of just under $195,000 a year with benefits.