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TRUSTEES: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Local Government Week Oct. 20-26, 2013 #LGWOnt What do you think school trustees do? Northern Secondary School, Toronto, ON Trustees are a T-E-A-M • Click here What is a school board trustee? • School board trustees are the oldest form of elected representation in Ontario. The office has been in existence since 1807 and represents citizens in the education decisionmaking process. • The election of school board trustees is governed by the Education Act and the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. Both are the laws or rules that trustees follow. Three Types of School Trustees • Trustees are elected every four years during municipal elections. There are 317 publically elected trustees representing the 31 public English school boards across Ontario. • First Nation Trustees appointed to the board by their First Nation. There are 19 appointed trustees among the 31 public English school boards across Ontario. • Student Trustees elected by the student body of the board. The Ontario Student Trustees' Association represents over 2,000,000 students. The Money – Where does it come from? • The Kindergarten-Grade 12 education sector is the second-largest recipient of provincial funding, after healthcare. The Ontario provincial government spends about $22.4 billion each year. The money comes from taxpayers across the province. • Ontario’s public school trustees oversee budgets ranging from $30 million to $2.6 billion Famous Former Trustees • The current Premier, Kathleen Wynne, was a school board trustee with the Toronto District School Board • The current Minister of Education, Liz Sandals, was a school trustee with the Upper Grand DSB (in Guelph) and is past president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association • NDP MPP Catherine Fife was a Trustee with the Waterloo Region District School Board and is also a past president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association • Many MPs, MPPs, Mayors and Municipal Councillors began their political careers as Trustees What constitutes a strong education system? • A system that prepares students to become productive and contributing citizens is the foundation of a civil society • Ontario’s English public school boards provide universally accessible education for all students, regardless of their ethnic, racial, or cultural backgrounds; social or economic status; gender; individual exceptionality; or religious preference. • Character education embraces values such as Citizenship, Cooperation, Courage, Empathy, Fairness, Honesty, Humility, Inclusiveness, Initiative, Integrity, Kindness, Optimism, Perseverance, Resilience, Respect, and Responsibility What are the “rules” for school? • Children and youth between the ages of 6 and 18 must be enrolled in a formal education program. • In 2010, the provincial government introduced Full Day Kindergarten across Ontario. • An Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requires students to complete 30 credits, complete the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test and 40 hours of community involvement activities. School Board Responsibilities • Student achievement and well-being • Ensuring effective stewardship of the board’s resources • Delivering effective and appropriate education programs for their students Who are the people in a school board? • Trustees • Director of Education • Supervisory Officers • Principals • Teachers • Support staff • YOU! School Board Trustee Responsibilities As members of the board, trustees collectively carry out the following key roles: • Establishing vision and climate • Planning, goal setting and appraisal • Policy making • Recruiting and reviewing performance of the chief executive • Student achievement and well-being • Allocating resources • School facilities • Student supports • Communications Additional Trustee Responsibilities • Attend and participate in meetings of the board, including meetings of board committees • Consult with parents, students and supporters of the board on the board’s multi-year plan • Bring concerns of parents, students and supporters of the board to the attention of the board • Maintain focus on student achievement and well-being and comply with the board’s code of conduct Why do you think people run for public office? Why is it important to vote in elections? What do you think my office looks like? Why are school boards important?