By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Incumbent Chair Joe Ortona and his team are being challenged by Team Katherine Korakakis. Korakakis is president of the English Parents Committee Association of Quebec. Her platform includes “prioritizing the mental well-being of our students through comprehensive support programs, ensure that every dollar spent contributes directly to the well-being and success of our students and schools,” amongst others. Korakakis herself has said that as EMSB chair, she “intends to prioritize transparency, accountability, and community engagement.”

Her candidates include:

Ward 1: Franco Mazzariello (Ahuntsic-Cartierville-Montréal-Nord): Mazzariell has more than 15 years of involvement in the school board, and has served as Vice Chairman of the Governing Board at both Gerald McShane and Lester B. Pearson High School, which he fought to keep open.

Ward 2: Howie Silbiger (Côte des Neiges): Silbiger has been an educator for 11 years as well as a longtime radio show host, discussing education, community issues, and current events.

Ward 3: Samara Perez (Côte St.Luc, Montreal West, Hampstead): Dr. Samara Perez is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at McGill University, a licensed psychologist at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), and an Associate Investigator at the Research Institute of the MUHC.

Ward 4: Viktoriya Grosko (Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Rosemont, La Petite Patrie, Mont-Royal, Anjou, Montréal-Est): Grosko is an entrepreneur, artist, and advocate for children’s education; the founder of Art Blooms Club and host of a Ukrainian radio show.

Ward 5: Incumbent Joseph Lalla (NDG): Lalla has been an educator and principal for more than 35 years and a commissioner since 2007.

Ward 6: Tony Aversano (Rivière des Prairies): Aversano has been a member of the governing board of Lester B. Pearson High School.

Ward 7: Vicky Pololos (St. Laurent): Pololos is Chair of the Gardenview School Governing Board and an active delegate to the EMSB Parent’s Committee.

Ward 8: Antonio Zaruso (St. Leonard): Zaruso has served on the governing boards of General Vanier Elementary, Dante Elementary, and Laurier Macdonald High School and is an environmental consultant.

Ward 9: Joanne Charron Yannakis (Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension, Mount-Royal, Outremont): Charron-Yannakis was leader of a grassroots movement to prevent the closures of Carlyle Elementary and Mackay Centre and has worked with the English Parents’ Committee Association of Quebec, Quebec English School Boards Association, and the Quebec Community Groups Network.

Ward 10: Shalani Bel (Westmount, Southwest, Ville-Marie): Bel served on the governing board of Westmount Park School (WPS) for four years — two as Chair — and has been the parent delegate of WPS to the EMSB Parent Committee for three years. n