Insight Into Trustee Life

Mission Statement

Through our commitment to excellence in public education, we strive to ensure all students become life-long learners, confident and capable of shaping their future and meeting the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Role of the Board

School boards govern their school system according to community needs, while maintaining standards set by provincial legislation. Trustees are politicians elected by and accountable to the community they serve, however the ultimate responsibility for education rests with the Government of Alberta. The province delegates to a school board the responsibility of conducting the affairs of the school jurisdiction.

The responsibilities of the Board of Trustees include the following:

• Making policy to guide the administration and employees toward division goals,
• Jurisdictional planning and setting priorities for the system in light of community wishes, available resources and sound educational practices,
• Direction setting and establishing goals for the jurisdiction, ensuring education stays in step with today’s world,
• Hiring, empowering and evaluating the superintendent (chief executive officer),
• Adopting an annual budget for the school system,
• Communicating with the community and staff on behalf of the jurisdiction,
• Educating others, with a goal of ensuring education is given a high priority by the public,
• Keeping the community aware of the jurisdiction’s achievements,
• Gathering information in order to make sound decisions,
• Adjudicating in policy disputes, and
• Lobbying all levels of government on behalf of education.

Board Composition

Five trustees serve on the St. Albert Public Schools Board of Trustees for a four-year term. During its annual organizational meeting the board elects one of its members as chair and another as vice-chair. If the chair is unable to perform the duties of that office, those duties are performed by the vice-chair.

Role of the Trustees

Represent all students, staff and schools in the division,

• Attend regular and special meetings of the board,
• Represent the board on special committees,
• Represent the board on affiliated provincial and national association committees as applicable (Alberta School Boards Association, Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta, Canadian School Boards Association),
• Represent the board at formal and informal functions throughout the year, and
• As representatives of the community are available to electors through phone calls, letters, email and informal meetings.

Further information on trusteeship is available from the Alberta School Boards Association website. The Education Act also provides additional and definitive information on trusteeship and the powers of a board.

Meetings & Time Commitment

With an average of at least eight meetings per month, preparation for meetings, attendance at formal and informal functions and contact with constituents, trustees may spend between 20-40 hours per week on board business. Much of this is done during daytime hours. Public board meetings take place at 1:30 pm on one or two Wednesdays of each month (except summer). Committee meetings also take place Wednesdays during the daytime. There may be meetings/commitments during evening and weekend hours as well.