Pat Daly elected Hamilton Catholic chair for 32nd term in inaugural board meeting

For the 32nd consecutive term, Pat Daly has been elected Hamilton Catholic board chair.

The longtime trustee, who has helmed the board since 1991, was re-elected at an inaugural board meeting Tuesday.

Daly, who is among the returning familiar faces, was re-elected in Ward 7 in the Oct. 24 municipal election after beating out second-place challenger Nick Agostino by just 339 votes.

In his initial address, Daly commended incoming trustees for their generous response" to the call to serve, a Nov. 15 release reads.

Such high levels of commitment and unity will serve us well as we navigate the opportunities and challenges of the next four years," he said.

Daly asked that monitoring and reviewing existing structures for student, parent and staff engagement" be prioritized early in the term.

More than ever, it is important that those entrusted with leadership create conditions for all voices to be heard," he said.

The chair recommended Catholic identity, along with learning recovery, faith formation, and mental health and well-being, among other factors, drive the 2023-24 budget.

In the Nov. 15 meeting, Wards 8 and 14 trustee John Valvasori was re-elected vice-chair, Ward 10 trustee Mary Nardini was re-elected chair of the religion, family life and faith formation committee, and Wards 12 and 13 trustee Phil Homerski was re-elected chair of the student achievement and well-being committee.

Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com