About 20 people attended an information session for people interested in running for school Board last Thursday night.
"I was very pleased with the amount of people who showed up," said outgoing chair Lynette Kershaw.
"It was very gratifying to see that there is interest out there and it's good thoughtful interest as opposed to people reacting to just one facet of the trustee world, perhaps the closing of schools."
She said the candidates were very well balanced and she hopes good candidates help bring out an engaged electorate to debates ready to ask good questions.
Superintendent Rollie Koop agreed that the evening went "absolutely excellently," and candidates had "a breadth of experience and a real passion for education."
He said they included people from age 20 to their late 70s with backgrounds in everything from business, various levels of education and the not for profit world. The nomination period is open Sept. 30 to Oct. 10. Information and the required paperwork are available at the school board office in Parksville. Check under the Board of Education tab at www.sd69.bc.ca for more.