The Chair of the Near North District School Board is feeling positive about the year ahead.

Jay Aspin says the newly sworn-in board has sorted out priorities, formed action committees and placed a timeline on a few important decisions.

Those include the transition of W.J. Fricker students and a comprehensive review of the 3-2 decision in the North Bay secondary panel.

Recommendations to the board will be made within three months.

“It’s a good start to get the board back on a solid track for future development. Trustees are diligently working with staff to get the job done to create the best environment and educational options keeping students as their first consideration. In future, we will be looking for the opportunity to receive public input to give us their perspective on the kind of changes we have initiated as well as need to further consider,” says Aspin.

At a special meeting in December the board formulated four action committees to accomplish their immediate objectives of improving board culture in terms of better transparency, accountability and open communications, developing a contemporary Governance Model and Multi-Year Plan and furthering preparations for the Parry Sound Build.