Understanding the role of a school board trustee, March 2018

Understanding the role of a school board trustee, March 2018
Posted on 02/23/2018

February 23, 2018-This is the first in a series about school board trustees. A different article will be featured each month.

DID YOU KNOW . . .that school trustees were the first democratically elected representatives in Ontario? This is a history that began in 1816.

School board trustees are elected/appointed for a defined area. Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board has 10 trustees. Nine are elected and one is appointed by the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. Trustees collectively govern the school board through accountability, community representation, decision making, communication, advocacy and leadership.

As a member of the Board, an individual trustee is expected to act within the Board's by-laws, be loyal to the Board's decisions and abide by the Code of Conduct. As elected persons, trustees are also expected to advocate for the interests of their constituencies.

Sources: Report of the Governance Review Committee to the Minister of Education of Ontario, April, 2009 and Good Governance: A Guide for Trustees, School Boards, Directors of Education and Communities, 2014.

Board of Trustees, 2014 to November 30, 2018
Board of Trustees

Role of Trustee March
Trustees and student trustees of Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board.

Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board is proud to have the following trustees: Tom Biniaris, Trenton & CFB Trenton; Mike Brant, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte; Justin Bray, Southeast Hastings; Jennifer Cobb, North Prince Edward County; Bonnie Danes, Centre Hastings; Mary Hall, Belleville & Thurlow; Dwayne Inch, South Prince Edward County; Lucille Kyle, North Hastings & Chair of the Board; Dave Patterson, Belleville & Thurlow & Vice-Chair of the Board; Jim Williams, Frankford & Sidney.

Student trustees learn and lead at the Board table
Involving students in Board business is a valuable learning experience.

Student trustees represent student opinions at the Board level and participate actively on committees. Hearing from student trustees at Board meetings about student issues and opinions is a way to engage these leaders beyond their school community.

Student trustees have the same opportunities to participate at meetings as elected trustees although they are not Board members and do not have a binding vote. The 2017-2018 student trustees are Meera Moorthy, Moira Secondary School and Morgan Beatty, Centennial Secondary School.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, [email protected]

Student Trustees
Meera Moorthy & Morgan Beatty
2017-2018 student trustees