The Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees consists of nine Trustees elected from each of the nine public school wards who collectively make decisions with respect to the provision of K-12 public education services on behalf of the citizens of Edmonton. The boundaries of the Edmonton Public School District are coterminous with the City of Edmonton limits. Trustees are accountable to all Edmontonians considered residents of the Public School District (non-Roman Catholic) as defined in the Section 44, School Act.

Board Role and Responsibilities

Under the School Act, the Board’s responsibilities include:

• Hiring and evaluating the (CEO)/Superintendent
• Representing the public interest and reflecting the values of the community in its decision making
• Setting district priorities
• Approving the District’s annual operating and capital budgets
• Establishing policies to provide direction for the District
• Evaluating and reporting the results achieved to the public
• Serving as an advocate and steward of public education.

Oath of Office

Each elected Trustee is required to take an Oath of Office as prescribed by the Oaths of Office Act before commencing Trustee duties. This will take place at the first Board meeting following the election.

Pecuniary Interest

Upon election, Trustees are required, in accordance with the School Act, Section 81, to file a “Disclosure of Information” statement with the Board Secretary identifying the names and employment of the Trustee and Trustee’s immediate family and the names of corporations, partnerships, individuals in which the Trustee or Trustee’s immediate family has a pecuniary (financial) interest.

In accordance with Section 83, School Act, if a Trustee has a pecuniary interest related to a matter before the Board, the Trustee must abstain from voting on any question relating to that matter. A Trustee who contravenes the School Act provisions on pecuniary interest is disqualified from remaining as a Trustee of the Board.

Time Commitment

The Trustee position is expected to be part-time. A Trustee’s workload varies from 10 to 30 or more hours a week depending on the time of year, the length of business meeting agendas, the number of positions or committees for which he or she is serving on behalf of the Board, Board representation obligations at district hosted and external events and his or her own personal choices for extra community involvement. Meetings and events occur during business and school hours, evenings and on weekends.

Remuneration

The School Act allows a Board to provide for honoraria and payment of travel and other expenses. The Edmonton Public School Board's policy and procedures related to Trustee remuneration and expenses are currently under revision.

Orientation and Board Development

It is important to the success of the Board for Trustees to get to know each other, appreciate each other's strengths and develop a sense of team as quickly as possible. Only as a Board can Trustees provide the direction and decisions required to govern the corporation, Edmonton School District No. 7, otherwise known as Edmonton Public Schools.

Within the first few weeks following the election, the District will provide a number of orientation sessions for the new Board of Trustees in preparation for the Organizational Board meeting and first regular Board meeting, and the first round of Results Review Meetings. In addition, the Board belongs to both the Alberta School Boards Association which will be providing Board development and learning sessions on behalf of all the newly elected Boards related to best practices in Board governance and trusteeship.

Currently known Board and Committee meetings are listed in the Board Calendar, and orientation and Board development sessions scheduled within the first few months of the election.