At the age of 19, Alex Cimino just started his post-secondary studies last fall, enrolling in sports administration at Laurentian University.
Cimino juggles his homework with school board politics. In October, when he was still just 18 years old, Cimino was acclaimed as a trustee with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.
He filled the seat previously occupied by Tyler Peroni, who was also a young trustee, having been elected at age 22 in 2014. Peroni opted not to run in the 2018 trustee elections, leaving the seat open for newcomers.
Cimino does come to his role with some experience — he served as student trustee on the Sudbury Catholic board during the last school year.
“It was perfect timing for me,” he said. “I was just getting out of the student trustee role, I was just graduating, and I knew I was going to be spending my next four years at Laurentian.”
The St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School graduate said he served on student council starting in Grade 7.
“I just loved being involved with the community and students,” Cimino said. “Once you see your work has a positive impact on students, it's a motivating factor."
He said he loved his time as student trustee, which is why he decided he'd like to become a full fledged Sudbury Catholic trustee.
Unlike last year, when he was student trustee, his votes now count, and he can participate in the in camera portions of the meetings.
“I'm loving it so far,” Cimino said. “I'm learning a lot. Being there for a year was already huge. I already kind of knew what goes on in our board.”
He said he's learning a lot from the rest of the trustees, an experienced lot who have all served at least one term with Sudbury Catholic.
A couple members of the board are even old enough to be Cimino's grandparents — but he said “they're young at heart” when it comes to their drive and motivation.
With being so young, Cimino said he understands the needs of secondary school students.
“It's a different perspective that I bring to the table, being just graduated from high school,” he said.
The election (or acclamation) of young trustees such as Cimino and Peroni is something of a deja vu moment for Sudbury Catholic board chair Michael Bellmore.
He first ran at age 18 for trustee for the Sudbury Catholic board's precursor, the Sudbury Roman Catholic Separate School Board, but was not successful. He was elected in 1994 at the age of 22.
An older population tends to serve on school boards, Bellmore said, but the Sudbury Catholic board is actually well balanced, age wise, with youth such as Cimino serving alongside middle-aged and older people.
While Cimino is young, Bellmore said he has some experience thanks to his time as student trustee, and is able to empathize with various groups, including board employees and taxpayers.
“I think he's well rounded in that perspective, and brings not just a student perspective or a young perspective,” Bellmore said. “I think he actually brings a nuanced perspective to the board.”
