O’Hara picked to lead troubled Halifax school board

By RICK CONRAD Education Reporter

The province has gone with a political rookie to lead Nova Scotia’s largest, and lately most
cantankerous, school board.

Gary O’Hara, one of eight new members elected to the Halifax regional school board in October
2004, has been one of its quieter representatives.

But he says he’s up to the task.

"I don’t generally speak just for the sake of hearing my voice or others to hear my voice, and
perhaps that’s why most board members can endorse the appointment," he said Thursday, admitting
that he was "pleasantly surprised" when he got the call this week.

"I’ve always been able to liaise well with staff and colleagues and community members and
parents. So I’m confident that I can do the same for the Halifax regional school board."

The Clayton Park-Fairview rep is chairman of the board’s audit and operations committee and sits
on the board’s bylaws and supplementary funding committees.

With four sons, aged nine to 29, he’s been heavily involved in the education system for about 10
years, sitting on PTAs and school advisory councils before being elected to the board.

He owns Watchdog Communications, a computer and home security company he runs out of his house
in Clayton Park.

The province had to appoint a chairman after board members couldn’t agree on one to replace Wade
Marshall, who announced his resignation earlier in March over an undeclared 2001 bankruptcy.

Two Dartmouth representatives, Gin Yee and Debra Barlow, were going for the position, but
members were still tied 6-6 after three votes at a March 29 meeting.

Under Education Act regulations and board bylaws, cabinet was asked to pick a chairman from all
12 board members.

Education Minister Jamie Muir, who announced the appointment Thursday, said that after
consulting with a number of people inside and outside the board, Mr. O’Hara’s name "came up on
the list every time."

"He’s always demonstrated the interests of the students first and the community next," he said
in an interview.

Mr. Yee, whose extensive knowledge of board bylaws has been remarked on by a few of his
colleagues, said he was disappointed not to be chosen but added that he called Mr. O’Hara to
congratulate him and wish him the best of luck.

He said he’s more than happy to help Mr. O’Hara as he tries to unite the sometimes warring
factions on the board.

"If Gary’s willing, I want to use the rules to help people have more debate on the floor," he
said.

Ms. Barlow said she believes he’ll make an "excellent" chairman and will help the board come
together.

"Everything that I have seen of Gary is that he’s willing to learn and he’s very devoted to the
public education system. . . . He’ll certainly do his level best to facilitate good relations on
his board."

That’s what Mr. O’Hara said he plans to do.

"We have a great amount of diversity and skill around the table, and I think it’s important to
involve and use it. . . . There is definitely a desire (among members). . . . Let’s get this
behind us and let’s plan for the future of our kids."

Source: The Chronicle Herald, April 7, 2006
http://www.herald.ca