RETSD is Pleased to Announce the 2025–2026 Board of Trustees Chair and Vice-Chair

Trustee Carswell represents Ward 1 and was re-elected as Board Chair for the 2025–26 school year at the board’s inaugural meeting on September 2, 2025. This will be her fourth consecutive year as Board Chair. Trustee Carswell grew up in Transcona and has been helping parents navigate the school system since 1992. 

Trustee Carswell brings to the role of Board Chair both a deep passion for governance and a talent for uniting strong, effective teams. She is respected for her exemplary leadership and is sought after as a mentor to fellow Trustees and Boards across the province.   

We also congratulate Susan Olynik, Trustee for Ward 4, on being re-elected as Board Vice-Chair. Trustee Olynik has represented Ward 4 since October 2018 and was re-elected as Board Vice Chair for the third year in a row. She has lived in East and North Kildonan all her life and is honoured to represent the community’s interests in education.

Trustee Olynik’s career experience as a leader in corporate communications, social responsibility, governance, and government relations, has been an asset to the division. She believes that every decision that is made must be for the benefit of our children, so they receive a quality education—one that will prepare them for a happy and productive life after graduation.

As part of the inaugural meeting, Chairs of the Board Standing Committees were also elected. Trustee Brianne Goertzen (Ward 3) was elected Chair of the Finance, Facilities, Transportation, and Technology Committee, Trustee Brenda Bage (Ward 4) was elected Chair of the Program, Policy Review, and Personnel Committee, and Trustee Sheri Hanson (Ward 2) was elected Chair of the Negotiations Committee.

The board will hold its regular meetings on the first and third Tuesday of the month, starting at 6:30 p.m., at the RETSD Administration Offices, 589 Roch St. All regular board meetings are live streamed via Microsoft Teams and accessible to the public online. Registration links are posted on the RETSD website prior to each board meeting and those who register will be sent a link to the meeting. The public are also welcome to attend meetings in person.