The Premier wants to remove your democratic right to vote for a School Board Trustee
What is a Trustee?
Trustees are local representatives who are elected for 4-year terms during municipal elections who are focused on student achievement and well-being. Read about the role of the School Board Trustee written by a former Trustee and Chair.
Messages for Premier Ford
905-325-1941 đ±
What’s Happening?
Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Paul Calandra have said they plan to eliminate elected school trustees in 2026. Ford has no mandate for this, no plan, and has held no public consultation. Heâs playing fast and loose with the education of 2 million students today and millions more in the future. Trustees are Ontarioâs oldest form of democracy. They connect parents, students, and communities to decision-making in education and push back when provincial policies risk harming student achievement and well-being. Call Premier Ford today and tell him to keep trustees because our kids canât afford to lose their voice.
Messages for Premier Ford
905-325-1941 đ±
Here are some suggested messages to leave for Doug Ford at his office number:
Help Get the Word Out!
Print your own DIY business cards and hand them out!
Trustee FAQs
What is a School Board Trustee?
-
A trustee is an elected representative on a school board. They help set direction, make policy, approve budgets, and ensure the board is serving all students fairly. granderie.ca+3elections.ontarioschooltrustees.org+3Renfrew County District School Board+3
-
They donât run day-to-day operations (thatâs staff/administration), but they hold the director of education accountable.
What Are the Key Responsibilities?
-
Establishing policy direction and strategic planning (e.g. multi-year plan) for the board. elections.ontarioschooltrustees.org+1
-
Monitoring achievement, well-being, equity of students. elections.ontarioschooltrustees.org+2York Region District School Board+2
-
Approving and overseeing the budget, allocating resources. elections.ontarioschooltrustees.org+1
-
Community representation / advocacy: engaging with parents, school councils, community groups, etc. elections.ontarioschooltrustees.org+1
-
Attending board meetings, committee meetings, reviewing materials. elections.ontarioschooltrustees.org+1
Time Commitment & Whether Itâs Part-Time
-
The job is part time, but it can demand a significant number of hours. elections.ontarioschooltrustees.org+1
-
On average trustees may spend around 15 hours per week on trustee-related activities, though this will vary greatly depending on the size of the board, how many committees they sit on, how many community functions, etc. elections.ontarioschooltrustees.org+1
-
The times of meetings are often outside regular work hours (evenings), plus time reviewing documents. elections.ontarioschooltrustees.org
Eligibility & Term
-
Must be at least 18, a Canadian citizen, eligible to vote for that board, resident in the area. York Region District School Board+1
-
Trustee terms are for 4 years (aligned with municipal elections) in most cases. York Region District School Board+1
Remuneration / Honorarium
People often ask: âDo trustees get paid?â Yes, but itâs not a full salary. Some basics:
-
Trustees receive an honorarium rather than a salary; this is an annual payment that varies by board. elections.oesc-cseo.org+2CP24+2
-
The honorarium is composed of a base amount, possibly additional amounts tied to enrolment, meeting attendance, distance (for boards covering large geographic areas), etc. elections.oesc-cseo.org+1
-
The chair and vice-chair of the board get additional honorarium because of extra responsibilities. elections.oesc-cseo.org+1
-
Ontario Regulation 357/06 sets limits on honoraria. elections.oesc-cseo.org+1
-
Across Ontario, the limits for trusteesâ honoraria are roughly from $7,500 to about $29,500 annually. CP24+1