As members of their school board, trustees collectively carry out many important duties. These include:
- Electing a board chair
- Establishing the board’s mission, vision, and value statements
- Maintaining a focus on student achievement and well-being
- Developing and evaluating policies that are operationalized by the director
- Allocating resources by approving the annual board budget
- Managing board facilities by setting policies and approving capital plans
- Ensuring support services are provided
- Communicating with stakeholders and establishing processes for community input
- Adhering to policies that address the hiring, transfer, promotion and termination of all board staff
- Ensuring staff are well supported by setting policies about health and safety, accessibility, etc.
- Ensuring there are mechanisms in place to recognize students, staff, community members and volunteers
- Providing advice to the ministry and provincial trustee associations regarding regional and local implications for new policy recommendations
- Advocating on behalf of and communicating with board communities
- Striking and maintaining committees as required by legislation/regulation, or as needed locally
- Filling vacancies on the board
Two of the most important responsibilities that boards of trustees have are:
- The development and monitoring of the multi-year strategic plan (MYSP)
- The hiring and performance appraisal of the director of education
What does this mean for Catholic families in York Region?
The Â鶹Դ´ has established policies and procedures to ensure that parents will have their specific questions answered and/or concerns addressed. Trustees are always willing to listen to parental concerns, especially those pertaining to Board policy. Trustees will refer parents to the following protocol with respect to individual school-based concerns:
- Your classroom teacher and/or school principal is the first point of contact for any questions or concerns you may have;
- Should you need further assistance, your Area Superintendent of Education is available to assist you;
- In the event of any outstanding question and/or concern, please contact the Associate Director;
- The Director of Education is always available for consultation and assistance with unresolved issues.