running-for-catholic-school-trustee-
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Dufferin-Peel鈥檚 Catholic schools are overseen by a board of 11 elected trustees.
Trustees serve as system leaders of publicly funded education in their
communities and province. They work collaboratively with their community to
shape a vision for the board that is reflective of the input of parents,
students and community members. Trustees advocate for excellence in education
and act as role models to engender confidence in publicly funded education. In
addition, Catholic school trustees have a clearly defined role as stewards and
guardians of Catholic education.
Municipal elections,
including the election of Catholic School Trustees, take place every four
years. The next Municipal and School Board elections will be held in 2026.
Thinking of running for the office of Catholic School Trustee?
The following information, provided by the Ontario Catholic School Trustees鈥� Association (OCSTA) is provided to assist you in your discernment process. Additional information from OCSTA and the Province of Ontario is also provided.
Who can be a Catholic School Trustee?
To be eligible for election to a four-year term as a Catholic school trustee, you must be:
- a Roman Catholic or a member of one of the Eastern Catholic Churches
- a Catholic school supporter
- a resident within the jurisdiction of the district Catholic school board
- a Canadian citizen at least 18 years of age
As members of the Catholic community, Catholic trustees share in the joy of providing an education that addresses the spiritual, moral, academic and physical needs of our young people.
Trustees are encouraged by the knowledge that the contribution of their skills, experience and time is an investment in the future leadership of our communities, our Catholic schools, our country and our Church.
Catholic schools are faith communities which:
- engage students in a life-long faith journey rooted in the person of Jesus
- nurture spirituality through a Gospel-centered approach to learning in all subjects
- impart knowledge through religious education and family life education programs
Catholic school boards need trustees that:
- have a vision of Catholic education that is Christ-centered
- are committed to educating students in the Roman Catholic tradition
- are willing to work with all partners within and beyond the Catholic education community
- are willing to devote time to prayer and reflection, to meetings, to public functions and to addressing concerns of Catholic school voters
Catholic trustees are accountable to Catholic school electors for:
- establishing the system鈥檚 mission and goals
- supporting student achievement in the school community
- establishing the annual budget
- developing policies to ensure the efficient operation of the board
- determining the type, size and location of schools
The following additional resources are designed to assist candidates and potential candidates for the office of Catholic school trustee.