School Board Trustees

Elected Trustees make up a school board. The number of Trustees on a board is based on the population in the board’s area of jurisdiction.

Within Kawartha Lakes there presently are:

• 5 English Language Public School Board trustees
• 1 English Language Catholic School Board trustee
• 1 French Language Public School Board trustee (shared with several other municipalities)
• 1 French Language Catholic School Board trustee (shared with several other municipalities)

A school board:

• Plans and establishes policies and by-laws;
• Builds, equips and furnishes schools;
• Ensures education programs meet the needs of the community;
• Approves textbooks and other learning materials based on a list provided by the province;
• Supervises the operation of the schools and their teaching programs;
• Hires principals and teachers;
• Establishes a school council for each school; and
• Prepares an annual budget.

Refer to the Education Act for more detailed information on the school board’s duties and powers.

School board trustees:

• Approve annual board budget;
• As part of the Board, deliberate and establish policies as authorized by the Education Act;
• Monitor implementation of Ministry of Education and Board policy and programs; and
• Consult, represent and advocate for the constituents in their ward.

The following is a brief description of the area of jurisdiction for each school board:

• The Trillium Lakelands District School Board (English-Public) includes the entire City of Kawartha Lakes, the District of Muskoka, and the County of Haliburton.
• The Peterborough-Victoria, Northumberland & Clarington Catholic District School Board (English-Separate) includes the City of Kawartha Lakes, City and County of Peterborough, County of Northumberland, and the Municipality of Clarington.
• Conseil scolaire Viamonde (French-Public) includes a significant geographic area in Southern Ontario. Sector 1 includes Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Northumberland, Peterborough, Durham and Quinte West.
• Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (French-Separate) includes a significant geographic area in Southern Ontario. Region 11 includes Kawartha Lakes, Durham, Northumberland, Peterborough, and Quinte West.

For the position of School Board Trustee you must be:

• A Canadian citizen;
• At least 18 years of age;
• A resident in the area of jurisdiction* (see question: What are the areas of jurisdiction for each of the four school boards);
• Eligible to vote for the school board; and
• Not disqualified to hold office by any legislation.

You must not be:

• A clerk, treasurer, deputy-clerk or deputy-treasurer of any municipality within the area of jurisdiction of the school board except those on an unpaid leave of absence;
• A member of the Provincial Legislature, the Federal House of Commons or Senate who has not resigned from their office by the close of nominations. Proof of resignation must be provided by the close of nominations; and
• A candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement(s) in the last municipal election or by-election.

School Board Employees

Employees of any school boards (including supply teachers) are disqualified from being elected as school board trustee or from holding office on any school boards, except during a leave of absence. The employee must be on a leave of absence before filing their nomination paper. They must provide the City Clerk with documentation showing that they have taken the leave of absence and the effective date.

To run for School Board Trustee you must live in the area of the jurisdiction. This means you may be eligible to run for a School Board Trustee seat in Kawartha Lakes even if you aren't a resident of Kawartha Lakes (but are a resident within the school board elsewhere). It also means that a Kawartha Lakes resident may run for an office outside of Kawartha Lakes, but still within the school board.

Examples:

• A resident of Haliburton County may run for the English Public School Board Trustee Office for the Trustee position of Kawartha Lakes Wards 1 & 4 (both the resident and the office are within the area of the Trillium Lakelands District School Board jurisdiction)
• A resident of Kawartha Lakes may run for the English Separate School Board Trustee Office for a Trustee position in Clarington (both the resident and the office are within the area of the PVNCCDSB jurisdiction).

Section 219 of the Education Act states:

Qualifications of members

219 (1) A person is qualified to be elected as a member of a district school board or school authority if the person is qualified to vote for members of that district school board or that school authority and is resident in its area of jurisdiction.  1997, c. 31, s. 112.

Same

(2) A person who is qualified under subsection (1) to be elected as a member of a district school board or school authority is qualified to be elected as a member of that district school board or school authority for any geographic area in the district school board’s or school authority’s area of jurisdiction, regardless of which positions on that district school board or school authority the person may be qualified to vote for.

School Board Trustee nominations are accepted by appointment only at the Kawartha Lakes City Clerk's Office, City Hall (26 Francis St in Lindsay, ON). The last day to file a nomination is August 19, 2022 at 2:00pm.

School Board Trustee Nominations follow most of the same procedures as a candidate for Municipal Council. The one major exception is the requirement for 25 endorsements which is mandatory for the Office of Mayor and Councillor, but not required for School Board Trustees.

For more information on candidate nominations visit the Candidates Section of our website. 

For more information on running for a School Board Trustee, visit the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association website that offers various guides and tips for School Board Trustees.

The Ontario Education Services Corporation has also compiled a Guide for School Board Trustee Candidates.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs has produced a Guide for candidates for municipal council and school board offices.

Trustee use of school board resources during a municipal and school board election campaign, applicable to the Trillium Lakelands District School Board.

You can also visit the four School Board websites:

1. Trillium Lakelands District School Board
2. Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board
3. Conseil scolaire Viamonde
4. Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir