New director for French board

Sylvain will be replacing current DG Pierre Jetté who is retiring. Sylvain will assume his new post on Feb. 5. He plans on entering the post fully prepared. He has some experience at running a school board. He is currently the DG at the Riviere-du-Nord school board. His experience, he feels, will be an asset.

Sylvain wants to further projects started by Jetté. “It is a healthy organization,� he said of where the school board is now. He wants to bring the school board to the next level, without undoing what Jetté has started.

One of his key objectives is to increase the number of students receiving diplomas from both high-school and professional programs. The first step to ensure that, Sylvain believes is to work on getting the students ready to take ministerial level exams.

“It is a common challenge with all school boards to increase the number of students graduating. Your diploma is your passport for life.�

Another of Sylvain’s priorities is to highlight the importance of multiculturalism within the school board. Marguerite-Bourgeoys has 45,000 students enrolled in its 88 schools. Sylvain says that the students’ diversity could be changed into their greatest asset. “We have to be able to integrate our cultural minorities. To welcome people,� Sylvain said. “It will be one of my greatest challenges.�

Sylvain has not determined how he will address and bring together the different minority groups within the school board. His first step will be a meeting with the school board commissioners and establish a good rapport with them. He believes that this will allow for a smooth transition.

— Victoria Theoret