1. Slide Deck 6: School Trustees

2. What is the name of our school board?
Who sets the goals and makes strategic decisions for the school board?
Who oversees operations and makes management decisions for the school board?

3. School Boards
Ontario’s school boards operate the province’s publicly funded schools. They administer the funding they receive from the provincial government in their designated geographic area.

4. Types of School Boards in Ontario
Ontario has four types of publicly funded school boards:
English public (31 boards)
English Catholic (29 boards)
French public (4 boards)
French Catholic (8 boards)
There are also 10 school authorities established for schools located in geographically isolated areas and within hospitals. 4

5. School Trustees
Each school board has a group of locally elected representatives known as school trustees
Trustees are members of the governing board (they are not employees)
Individual trustees have no individual authority, it is the board that makes decisions as a whole

6. The Role of the Board of Trustees
Creating an educational vision and multi-year strategic plan
Setting goals for student achievement
Working with school councils and parent councils
Approving textbook and learning materials
Developing rules for safety and behaviour
Determining the number, size and location of schools
Approving a balanced annual budget

7. Board Decision-Making
If the board wants to take a particular action or make a decision, a motion or proposal must be put forward at a board meeting.
Board decisions are made by voting. Motions are passed if they have majority support (support from more than half of the trustees).
The board of trustees establishes policies for schools in the board. A policy is a rule or action to achieve certain outcomes.

8. Role of Individual School Trustees
School trustees act as a link between local communities and the school board and are responsible for responding to issues in their communities
Trustees are required to consult with parents, students and community members on the board's multi-year plan and bring their concerns to the board table

9. How are School Trustees elected?
School trustees are elected every four years during municipal elections.
School trustees can be elected at-large (by all eligible voters) or by ward (when the board is broken down into smaller areas).
Every year, school trustees elect one of their members to act as Chair of the school board.

10. Student Trustees
In Ontario, each school board has 1-3 student trustees (In 2020 this will increase to at least 2 per board)
Student trustees participate in board meetings and suggest motions to bring forward issues and ideas
They can also vote on motions to show support but their votes do not count (non-binding vote)
Student trustees are a direct way for students to have a say at the school board level

11. Final Thoughts
How do the decisions made by school trustees impact you?
What qualities do you look for in a school trustee?
How can you evaluate the trustee candidates?
What concerns do you have for your school, the school board, or education in Ontario?