"He or she who seeks the office of trustee is seeking an honourable office."
- Cardinal G. Emmett Carter in The Challenge of Trusteeship.
October 15-21, 2023 has been designated by the province as Local Government Week, and was established to increase youth and public awareness about the role local government plays in our communities. This week is an opportunity for the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board to promote and celebrate the distinct and crucial service provided by locally elected Catholic School Trustees/Boards.
Catholic School Board Trustees
- School Board trustees are the oldest form of elected representation in Ontario
- The first Catholic school in Ontario was built in Glengarry County in 1826
- Catholic school board trustees are the only publicly elected official with the direct responsibility for the education of children in Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic schools
A Distinctive Focus - Catholic Trustees:
- have a vision of Catholic education that is Christ-centred;
- are committed to educating students in the Catholic faith tradition;
- work collaboratively with all partners in education for the betterment of all;
- embrace the knowledge that their service is an investment in the future leadership of our communities, our Catholic schools, our country and our Church.
Catholic School Board Responsibilities
- Establish the Catholic school board’s vision, mission and goals
- Develop school board policies that protect and promote the constitutional right of the Catholic community to govern Catholic schools
- Set and monitor the annual budget
- Develop and monitor the CDSB’s multi-year strategic plan
- Appoint the Director of Education and, subject to board policy, other staff
- Communicate the views and decisions of the board to constituents
- Represent the school board as a whole to the Catholic community
- Uphold the implementation of resolutions passed by the board
Elected Representation
- Catholic Trustees are elected every four years during municipal and school board elections.
- There are 237 publicly elected Catholic trustees representing 29 publicly funded Catholic school boards across Ontario.
- Catholic Trustees are the stewards, advocates, servant leaders and political representatives for Catholic education in Ontario.
NPSCDSB Board of Trustees
OCSTA History of Catholic Education in Ontario