When Ontarians go to the polls on October 24, they will not only be choosing their next batch of municipal representatives, but they will also be voting for school board trustees.
School Trustees serve on 72 Ontario School Boards. They hold the administration accountable and shape the policies that affect the educational life of some two million students in the province.
While trustees may vote with municipal politicians, the work they do does not command the same high public profile.
In the run-up to an election, you may have questions about what exactly a guardian does and why it’s important, especially if you don’t have school-age children.
Here is a reliable guide to all matters of trust management:
What do trustees do?
Like municipal politicians, school board trustees are elected to four-year terms.
These conditions expire in November following elections which are held in October every four years in agreement with the council members.
Ontario has English state and Catholic school boards, as well as French Catholic and community boards.
The English community council in Windsor-Essex, the Greater Essex District School Board, has 10 community trustees representing different geographic areas.
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windsor morning7:51What is a trustee?
Along with the mayor and councilors, school board trustees will also vote in municipal elections. So what exactly does a school trustee do? We talk to someone who has done this job about the role and responsibilities of a trustee.
Alicia Higgison, outgoing chairwoman of Greater Essex County Council, said the trustees provide direction and oversight to the council and represent the local constituency.
For example, several years ago, board actions led to the hiring of a new public relations officer and the creation of a new website, she said.
“What we heard from families over and over again is that they felt that communication was a sore point,” she said.
Trustee Alan Halberstadt said they make important decisions such as closing and reopening schools and passing the school board’s budget.
“[Trustees] gain experience working with children, working with the education system, educators, [GECDSB] CEO Erin Kelly is stepping down,” said Halberstadt, who served as a trustee for about 15 years in total but is not up for reelection.
“And this is a very important role. We have thousands of children in the Windsor-Essex public system.”
Confidant Vote
Residents vote for trustees at the same time they elect their councilors and mayoral candidates.
But before that, there is the question of which council elections you can vote in among the types of school councils.
By default, you will be the so-called “supporter” of the English Community Council, which means that you can vote in this election.
You can only be a supporter of French or Catholic rule if you are of the Catholic faith or speak French as your first language.
But in any case, there is an opportunity to change your status, if necessary, before the election, either through the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, which maintains a preliminary list of voters, or through your municipality closer to the time of the election.
Most major municipalities also allow residents to change at the polls on Election Day, according to Terry Knight LePaine, election administrator for the city of Windsor.
Do School Board Trustees receive a salary? Who can run?
You do not need to have children in the school system to work as a trustee.
According to the Ontario Educational Services Corporation (OESC), which created a trustee election website, you must reside in the council’s jurisdiction, be a Canadian citizen aged 18 or over, support the council, and have a legal vote.
You must also be a Catholic to serve on the Catholic School Board. Some people, such as student council employees, are disqualified from running for trustees.
Trustees get paid. According to the OESC, Ontario’s fee cap ranges from $7,500 to $29,500 depending on various factors, including the board itself.
Who is running in my area?
The nomination period for trustees has already ended for the fall vote.
Your municipality will have a list of local candidates on its website along with other candidates for positions.
The OESC has also published a list of candidates.