Swift Current's municipal election is a week away and not only does it feature the political fate of Swift Current but also the Chinook School Division's as well.

On the November 9 ballot, residents of Swift Current will have a choice between six candidates for three trustee positions with the local school division.

Retired teacher Dan Kerslake will be one of the names on the ballot and his passion for education has him hoping to return to the industry after retiring in June of 2019.

"I feel it's the right time to put my name forward to serve the students and community of Swift Current as a board trustee," he said. "I also see it as an opportunity to stay connected to the reason I got into education in the first place - that's supporting kids."

Kerslake's 31-year resume in the education sector includes - teacher, vice-principal, principal, Hutterian coordinator, and superintendent of schools.

The current issue he mentioned at hand for the school division is the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Firstly we have to ensure the safety of the students and staff," he said. "Nobody is really sure where this is going to head. We need to stay on top of that and what's happening in the community."

Branching off his first issue the board is currently facing, creates another obstacle to overcome in the future regarding faculty and students.

"I think we're going to need to look at how we can support them as they come through this' he said. "I think there's been probably added stress and mental health things that are going to surface that as a board we're going to have to look to see how we can support them through that."

Kerslake's final hurdle he believes the school division will have to jump over yearly is managing the funding they're given from the provincial government.

"In the long-term - the budget's always going to be an issue, how to do the best with the money we've got," he said. "We've got to continue to as we move through these difficult times to support our students in their learning and make sure that they become the best readers, writers, and mathematicians that they can be. As they move through to high school we need to ensure that they can get the credits they need so they can carry on with whatever they aspire to in their futures."

The father of three moved with his family to Swift Current in 2000 and was one of the founding members of minor football in the city. He's spent nine years as a Swift Current Broncos billet in the past. Kerslake's coaching resume is extensive including minor soccer, hockey, and baseball. While at school Kerslake coached volleyball, basketball, badminton, and track and field.

More recently he volunteered with the Western Canada Summer Games and 2019 U17 World Hockey Challenge.