School Board Trustee Information
School board trustees are the members of a school board who are locally-elected representatives of the public that act as the community's advocate for public education. They are required to carry out their responsibilities in a manner that assists the board in fulfilling its duties under the Education Act.
A trustee's role is to maintain a focus on student achievement, well-being and equity and to participate in making decisions that benefit the board's entire jurisdiction while representing the interests of their constituents. Trustees must also communicate the views and decisions of the board back to their constituents.
To find out more about what it means to be a school board trustee click the link below.
Becoming a School Board Trustee
For information relating to campaigning, financial statements, election signs, running an accessible campaign and more can be found on the Elections Website under Candidate Information.
To run for a trustee position on a school board you must be a resident within the jurisdiction of the board and you must be eligible to vote in a school board election. On the day you file your nomination, you must be a Canadian citizen aged 18 or older and you must meet any other qualifications to vote for the school board (for example, being a Roman Catholic, or holding French language rights). For more information about eligibility to vote, please see the 2022 Voters’ Guide.
Additional information about French-language rights is available from the Ministry of Education.
School board employees
You cannot work for a school board and be a trustee in Ontario at the same time. If you are an employee of any Ontario school board and you want to run for a trustee position on any school board in the province, you must take an unpaid leave of absence that begins the day you are nominated. If you are elected, you must resign from your job.
Municipal officials
If you are a clerk, deputy clerk, treasurer or deputy treasurer of a municipality within the jurisdiction of a school board, you are not permitted to run for office as a trustee of that board unless you take a leave of absence. If you are elected, you must resign from your job.
Who is not eligible?
The following people are disqualified from being elected as a school trustee:
- any person who is not eligible to vote in the school board election
- an employee of a school board or a municipal official who has not taken an unpaid leave of absence and resigned (see above)
- a judge of any court
- an MP, an MPP or a senator
- an inmate serving a sentence in a penal or correctional institution
Note for MPs, MPPs and senators If you are an MP, MPP or senator, you may file your nomination for municipal or school board office without resigning your current seat in parliament, the legislature or the senate. However, you must resign your seat by the close of nominations (2 p.m. on Friday August 19, 2022). If you are a federal or provincial cabinet minister, you must step down from cabinet prior to filing your nomination and must resign your seat by the close of nominations.
If you have not resigned by nomination day, your nomination will be rejected and your name will not appear on the ballot.
Nominations are being accepted at the Town of Collingwood for the Simcoe County District School Board Trustee - Collingwood Wasaga Beach distribution area (one position). The nomination period begins May 2, 2022 with the last day to file a nomination being Friday, August 19, 2022 by 2 p.m. Those wishing to submit a nomination are encouraged to set up a nomination appointment ahead of time to ensure staff availability.
It is the responsibility of the candidate to file a bona fide nomination paper. Two pieces of identification are required to be shown with the required nomination fee and completed forms provided below. See the list of acceptable documents for voter identification.
The nomination fee for school board trustee is $100. Payment must be made by cash, cheque, debit, or money order payable to the municipality accepting nominations for the school board. Candidates for school board trustee are not required to submit endorsement signatures.
Form 1 - Nomination Paper (also available online at https://forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca/en/dataset/017-9499p)
School boards are required to undertake a Determination and Distribution Report. This report determines the trustee coverage area and the lead municipality for the distribution areas responsible for accepting nominations for the school board trustee position. Below you will find a list of school boards and the municipality responsible for accepting nominations for each of the identified school boards and their contact information.
English Public School Board: Simcoe County District School Board - Collingwood and Wasaga Beach
Town of Collingwood: election@collingwood.ca or 705-445-1030
English Separate School Board: Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board - Clearview, Collingwood, Springwater and Wasaga Beach
Township of Springwater: Township of Springwater website or clerks@springwater.ca or 705-728-4784 x2015
French Public School Board: Conseil scolaire Viamonde - Sector 5
French Separate School Board: Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir - Sector 5
City of Barrie: City of Barrie Website or Be.Counted@barrie.ca or 705-728-VOTE (8683)
If interested in running for office, candidates should review the following information package:
General Information
- 2022 Candidates’ Guide - Ontario municipal council and school board elections
- Becoming a School Board Trustee
Nomination Papers
- Form 1 - Nomination Paper (also available online at https://forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca/en/dataset/017-9499p)
- Declaration of Qualifications - School Board Trustee
- Candidate Freedom of Information Release
Campaign Limits and Financial Statements
- Candidate Financial Institution Number letter
- Final Campaign Expense Limits - EP School Board Trustee
- Form 4 - Financial Statement Auditors Report Candidate
- Form 5 - Financial Statement - Subsequent Expenses Form
Policy, Procedures and Legislation