The Role of School Board Trustees
Each public school board in Ontario is governed by a board of trustees. School board trustees are locally elected representatives of the public who are responsible for the operation of the public school system.
Trustees play a critical role in advocating for public schools and students in their communities. They help set the local vision and priorities for student achievement, well-being and equity. They create policies that directly impact public schools, from ensuring safe and inclusive environments to supporting special education needs.
Importantly, school board trustees bring the concerns of students, parents/guardians, educators and community members to the board table, ensuring local voices are heard. They are a critical link between the public school system and the communities they serve.
Locally elected school board trustees in Ontario predate Confederation. Since the first Common School Act was passed in 1816, the role of independent elected school board trustees has been a central tenet of public education.
Ford Government’s Attack on School Board Independence
At the end of the 2024-25 school year, the Ford government placed several school boards under Ministry of Education supervision. This action means the democratically elected trustees of these boards were stripped of their authority over budgets and senior staffing decisions, as well as their power to advocate for local schools and students. These powers were transferred to a provincially appointed supervisor who reports directly to the Minister of Education.
In May 2025, the government tabled Bill 33, Supporting Children and Students Act, which would grant the Minister of Education unprecedented powers to intervene in school board operations under the broad pretext of addressing ‘matters of public interest’ opening the door to highly subjective, arbitrary, and politically motivated interventions by the Ministry.
Send an email to the Premier, the Minister of Education and your local MPP at BuildingBetterSchools.ca/Bill33
