The provincial government has set a date for a byelection to replace Vancouver School Board trustees who were fired last year by the B.C. Liberals.

Voters will head to the polls to choose nine new members of the board on Oct. 14.

"Our government is restoring a democratically elected board of education to ensure legitimacy and fair representation for Vancouver residents and to better serve students," said new NDP Education Minister Rob Fleming in a statement.

"Re-establishing the board as a vehicle for public discussion, debate and decisions is part of our commitment to fix our education system."

Two votes will save money: province

The previous trustees were removed from office last October by the previous government after they failed to pass a balanced budget. Since then, government-appointed trustee Dianne Turner has served in their place.

Turner has been asked to stay on as a special advisor to help get the new trustees up to speed, according to Fleming.

The byelection will also include a vote to replace former city councillor Geoff Meggs, who is now chief of staff to Premier John Horgan. According to the province, holding the two votes on the same day will save the school district as much as $1.5 million.

Though news of the school board byelection was just announced Thursday, former chair Mike Lombardi told CBC News said he'll seek the nomination as a candidate for Vision Vancouver.

"It's about time," Lombardi said. "It's just unacceptable for a school board not to be run by an accountable elected board."

Meanwhile, former Vision trustee Patti Bacchus has said she is still considering her options.



