Section 1.1: Board and Committees

Approved: April 7, 2026

STUDENT TRUSTEES

1.0             Rationale

District School Board Ontario North East (DSB1) recognizes the importance of student voice in public education governance. Meaningful student participation at the Board level supports informed decision-making, strengthens transparency, and promotes policies and practices that reflect the lived experiences and perspectives of pupils.

The establishment of Student Trustee positions fulfills the requirements of Ontario legislation and affirms the Board’s commitment to student engagement, leadership development, and democratic participation. By providing structured representation for students, the Board ensures that student perspectives are considered in Board deliberations while maintaining the governance responsibilities of elected Trustees.

2.0             Definitions

Student Trustee:  A full-time secondary school student, elected in accordance with applicable legislation and Board by-laws, who represents the interests, opinions, and concerns of students at meetings of the Board and, where applicable, Board committees.

Student Senate:  The recognized body through which Student Trustees communicate, consult, and report on matters related to student voice and representation within the Board.

Recorded Vote:  A vote taken at a Board or committee meeting in which the individual votes of members, including the Student Trustee where permitted, are formally recorded in the minutes, in accordance with the Education Act.

3.0             Policy

DSB1 is committed to fostering student voice by providing for the participation of Student Trustees in Board governance, in accordance with the Education Act and Ontario regulations.

Student Trustees shall:

• Represent the interests, perspectives, and concerns of students at the Board level;
• Participate in Board meetings and, where appointed, Board committees, consistent with legislative requirements;
• Engage with and report to the Board’s Student Senate;
• Have access to Board resources, information, and training opportunities necessary to fulfill their role.

4.0             Role of the Student Trustee 

4.1             The function of the Student Trustee is to represent the interests of pupils at meetings of the Board.

4.2             As the representative of student opinion and concern at the Board level, the Student Trustee is obligated to make himself or herself available to the general concerns and views of the students they represent.

4.3             The Student Trustees will report regularly to the Board’s Student Senate.

5.0             Eligibility

5.1              The candidates for the position of Student Trustee must be a full-time student at a secondary school in the senior division within the jurisdiction of DSB1.

6.0             Selection Process

See Policy 1.1.13 – Student Senate Constitution

7.0             Terms of Office

7.1             The term of office shall consist of one year or two years and starts on August 1 of the year in which the Student Trustee is elected. O. Reg. 354/18, s. 4 (1) 

7.2             Student Trustees may serve a maximum of two (2) years in office.

7.3             The Student Trustee position for a two-year term of office shall be filled by a student from a different Secondary School each term.  (As a result, no Secondary School shall have consecutive two-year Student Trustee.)   

8.0             Representation at Board Meetings

8.1             Student Trustees will have a regular seat at the board table.

8.2             Student Trustees may be appointed to the various Committees of the Board.  Appointment will take place at the annual Organization meeting. 

8.3             The Chair of the Board and Vice-Chair of the Board may assign Trustees as Trustee Mentors to the Student Trustees.

8.4             A Student Trustee is not entitled to a “binding vote”. (s.55(2))

8.5             A Student Trustee is entitled to request a recorded vote at any board meeting or committee meeting so that the student trustee’s vote can be duly reported. (s. 55(3))

8.6             In the event that a Student Trustee requests a recorded vote, the Education Act requires that two votes actually occur, the first including the Student Trustee vote and the second without the Student Trustee’s vote (s.55(3)(a) and (b)).

8.7             Student Trustees are allowed to participate in all Board meetings except those closed under clause 207(2).

8.8             Student trustees have the same access to Board resources and opportunities for training (s.55(7))

8.9             In the event the Student Trustee resigns from the position or fails to maintain satisfactory meeting attendance, the Board reserves the right to replace that Student Trustee.  Section 228 1(b) of the Education Act will be used as a guideline to monitor such attendance.

9.0             Expenses

9.1             Board policy, “Trustee Expenses” will apply for travel and out-of-pocket expenses for the Student Trustee to fulfill their functions at Board and committee meetings.

9.2             Conference attendance for the Student Trustees will be at the discretion of the Board.

10.0        Honorarium

10.1        A Student Trustee is entitled to receive an honorarium of $2,500 from the Board in accordance with the regulations if the specified conditions are satisfied.  2006, c. 10, s. 6