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School District No. 43 (Coquitlam)
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New Assistant Secretary Treasurer appointed

Patricia Bigonzi appointed Assistant Secretary Treasurer

We are pleased to announce that Patricia Bigonzi has been appointed to the position of Assistant Secretary Treasurer. Ms. Bigonzi has served as the Assistant Director of Budgeting and Reporting for SD43 since 2023. The Assistant Secretary Treasurer role was recently vacated by newly appointed Secretary Treasurer Nita Mikl.


Patricia relocated from Toronto to Vancouver in 1995 and started working for the Vancouver Canucks as an accountant, earning her professional designation in 1999 while continuing in that position. Over the span of 27 years, Patricia advanced from Accountant to Senior Accountant and ultimately to Controller. In this capacity, she managed all accounting aspects of the Vancouver Canucks, including the retail division, and the club’s affiliated charity.


One of Patricia’s most cherished responsibilities was managing the financial aspects of the Canucks for Kids Fund, a charity dedicated to raising funds to support children's health and wellness, education, social impact programming, and the development of grassroots hockey across British Columbia. The charity's mandate closely aligns with the school district's objectives, making it a natural transition to accept the Assistant Director of Budgeting and Reporting position with SD43.

Please join us in congratulating Patricia as she undertakes this new role and joins the District Leadership Team.​

Hoff, Ken5/21/2025 1:40 PM
Current Secretary Treasurer retires, new Secretary Treasurer appointed

​Secretary Treasurer Randy Manhas announces retirement

After 32 years of dedicated service to School District 43 (Coquitlam), Randy Manhas will be retiring from his role as Secretary Treasurer/CFO.

Randy began his career in SD43 in 1992 as a student teacher and spent the next 14 years teaching Math and Science. He later moved into school-based administration, where he supported students, staff, and families through various leadership roles. These experiences gave him a deep understanding of school operations and the importance of strong, supportive leadership at the school level.

Randy’s career then took him to the Board Office, where he made a significant. Starting as District Principal, he advanced to Director and then Executive Director of Human Resources. In these roles, Randy played a key part in shaping HR practices and policies, supporting recruitment and retention, and fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture across the district. His collaborative approach and steady leadership were instrumental in building strong relationships with employee groups and supporting staff at all levels.

For the past two and a half years, Randy has served as Secretary Treasurer/CFO, overseeing the district’s financial operations with professionalism and care. His broad experience and thoughtful leadership have been valuable assets to the district.

We thank Randy for his many years of service and leadership across multiple areas of the organization. Please join us in wishing him all the best in his retirement.


Nita Mikl appointed SD43 Secretary Treasurer/CFO

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Nita Mikl as the new Secretary Treasurer/CFO. Nita brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role, having dedicated 38 years to the accounting profession across both public and private sectors.

Nita’s journey began with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary, followed by her professional accounting designation while working in the private sector. In the early 1990s, she moved to British Columbia and joined a large steel distribution company, where she excelled as a senior accountant, assistant controller, and eventually controller until 2010.

In 2011, Nita joined School District 43 as Manager of Budgets, demonstrating exceptional skills in financial planning and management. Her dedication and leadership led to her promotion to Assistant Secretary Treasurer in July 2017. Today, we celebrate her well-deserved appointment to Secretary Treasurer, confident that her vast experience and commitment will continue to drive the financial stability and growth of our organization.

Please join us in congratulating Nita Mikl on this achievement!
Hoff, Ken5/15/2025 9:23 AM
SD 43 Board of Education Passes 2025/26 Budget

The School District No. 43 (Coquitlam) Board of Education passed its 2025/26 Annual Budget Bylaw unanimously after holding all three readings at its regular public meeting Tuesday, April 29. The budget totals nearly $522M.

The budget process included an early input session February 18, a presentation of the preliminary budget April 15, an opportunity for public input on April 22, and the final budget presentation and approval on April 29. The explicit theme expressed by the Board of Education throughout the process has been 'you talk, we listen'.

The strategic goals and objectives of the Board of Education are set out in the Directions 2025 document which clearly outlines three main goals: Achieve Student Success, Enhance Learning Through Technology and Foster a Sustainable Educational Organization.

The 2025/26 budget process considered the diverse interests of SD43's many partner groups and each consideration had to be carefully weighed to limit uncertainty as inflation and external cost pressures continue to challenge the district. Decisions have had to be made to limit the impact of grant underfunding while maintaining supports for vulnerable students and maximizing resources for student success.

School District No. 43 (Coquitlam) has a history of success and student achievement levels continue to be among the top in Metro Vancouver and the Province. Teaching excellence, strategic leadership and sound financial decisions are all contributing factors toward these positive outcomes.

Board Chair Michael Thomas thanked Secretary-Treasurer Randy Manhas, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Nita Mikl, and their staff for their exceptional efforts in preparing the 2025/26 budget and said, “The Board of Education remains committed to financial transparency and responsible financial stewardship to maintain a stable, predictable, and world-class education system that supports learners, employees, and our community."

Referring to the budget process, Superintendent Nadine Tambellini emphasized the importance of the close relationships between the board and partner groups, “throughout the budget process, the board of education has listened to the Coquitlam Teachers' Association, CUPE 561, the Coquitlam Principals' and Vice-Principals' Association, and the District Parents' Advisory Council. The board may take pride in passing a budget that is both responsive and sustainable, which leaves our district in an enviable position – both financially stable and yielding positive student outcomes."​

School District No. 43 (Coquitlam) is the third largest in B.C. with approximately 32,000 students in 71 schools and serves the cities of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody, as well as the villages of Anmore and Belcarra. 

Hoff, Ken5/6/2025 9:03 AM

SD43 Announcements provide official district-level news and announcements.

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School District No. 43 (Coquitlam)

1080 Winslow Avenue, Coquitlam BC
V3J 0M6
604-939-9201 604-939-7828