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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, December 11, 2013 | 4 Dialoguing and students top priorities Photos & Videos WITH SANTA NOVEMBER 29 ­DECEMBER 24 TUESDAY­FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY, DEC. 23 CHRISTMAS EVE 10AM - 8PM 10AM - 6PM 11AM - 5PM 10AM - 8PM RESERVATIONS ONLY* Your memorable experience with Santa will be captured digitally by photo and video, which you can download, print or send to friends ­ all for free! You're also invited to bring your own camera! Donations will be accepted, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the organization Sleeping Children Around the World. free PAWS & CLAUS PET PHOTOS DECEMBER 2, 9 & 16 2PM ­ 8PM RESERVATIONS REQUIRED* All four-legged furry friends are invited to have a free photo taken with Santa. Donations will be accepted with 100% of proceeds benefitting the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. *Space is limited. In-person reservations only, booked on a first come, first served basis. Visit Guest Services to reserve your time slot. Visit OAKVILLEPLACE.COM for more information. continued from p.3 Before the vote, Collard, a Burlington trustee, said if re-elected, she wanted to start writing a weekly chair's report to increase awareness of her work. "In just a couple of months time we will be entering into labour negotiations again," Collard said. "I have gained a good understanding of how this process has changed over the years. I believe I am well-positioned to chair our board through the coming year as we embark on a new process." As vice-chair, Collard will head the private session segments of board meetings, and the Director's Performance Review Committee. Collard is serving her first term as trustee, being elected in 2010. Having completed a year as chair of the board as well as taking a lead in a number of other committees and initiatives, Collard cited her eagerness to continue working in a leadership role. Amos also told trustees communications would play a big role if she was elected their chair, and assured she would always put students first. "To me, being a trustee always comes down to making the best decisions for the children," Amos said. "I'm a big believer in communication and I believe it's important for the chair to communicate regularly with trustees. As chair, I will ensure all trustees are kept informed and up to date. I believe regular dialogue enhances a trustee's ability to represent their community. The same holds here." Amos said the board needed to make more effective use of their committees by creating a permanent agenda for each one while prioritizing the most important items before looking at others on their list. She also said the board should shorten its meetings by passing consent items as a package without discussion. "That would differentiate between routine matters and more complicated matters that require more discussion," Amos said. Bateman-Olmstead, an Oakville trustee, told her colleagues she believed she possessed many of the qualities needed to become a great leader such as honesty, integrity, commitment and creativity. "I'm able to do what is right for every single student, their families, the staff and the system," she said. "I understand the system, the bureaucracy and the politics... I'm able to make decisions with the assistance of others but when required, I can do it in isolation."