Public School Board Trustees to meet and vote on keeping longest standing democratically elected position in Canada,

By Gazette Staff

September 16^th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

The Halton District School Board will meet this evening for a Special meeting at which a resolution will be presented.

Meeting Date: September 16, 2025

Minister of Education Paul Calandra speaking at the Legislature.

Recommendation: Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees direct the Chair write a letter to Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Education, Paul Calandra, outlining the important work of School Board Trustees in fulfilling the mandates of the Board as set out in the Ontario Education Act;

And request that the Minister meet with representatives from the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association to engage in meaningful consultation about the importance of this democratically, locally elected position prior to making any determinations regarding the future role of Ontario’s English Public School Board Trustees.

1. Analysis

While much has changed in school boards and in the education system in the last two centuries, one thing remains constant – Trustees’ familiarity, knowledge and engagement with the local community and its needs. The requirement that school board Trustees live in the district where they serve, further ensures that Trustees represent their community’s interests and needs while acting as liaisons between their constituents and the provincial government.

This is possible precisely because Trustees have intimate knowledge and personal engagement with the district.

As is the case with Members of Provincial Parliament, locally elected voices are required to fulfill the mandate of the provincial government while ensuring that there is a robust governing body and liaison between the local school board, its stakeholders, and the Ministry of Education. This liaison requires knowledge of the local community, its students and their needs.

HDSB Trustees fulfill the legislated responsibilities and overarching mandate of student achievement and well-being while providing local decision-making.

1.1 Governance Alignment

The mandated role of locally elected Trustees provides the framework for governance of school boards.

2. Background

The position of School Board Trustee is the longest standing democratically elected position in Canada, going back to 1816 in Ontario (formerly Upper Canada), long before the country now called Canada, with provincial and federal governments, existed.

School Board Trustees have a mandate for their role set out in the Ontario Education Act.

Oakville Trustee Joanna Oliver will present the Motion.

Trustees’ legislated responsibilities include developing the Multi Year Strategic Plan and supporting its implementation, developing and monitoring policies, providing stewardship of school board financial and capital resources, overseeing the hiring and performance of the Director of Education, representing the needs of the local community, consulting with local stakeholders, and serving on mandatory committees such as Special Education and Audit, all with student achievement and well-being as the overarching goal and mandate for each Trustee.

HDSB Trustees are deeply concerned about the potential loss of this democratically elected position and the resulting negative impact on students as the key stakeholders in the education system. These concerns are not unique to the HDSB, therefore we invite the Minister to engage in broader consultation through OPSBA, our provincial association, to discuss the importance of this democratically elected position and how it can be maintained and supported.

Report Title: Letter to the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Education

Submitted by: J. Oliver, Vice-Chair, Oakville Trustee, Ward 4