In Alberta, citizens elect school boards to act for the Legislature in their local schools and communities. School boards exist because of the belief that government – and decisions – made closest to the people being governed are the most effective.
On October 18, 2021, Albertans will go to the polls to elect their municipal leaders. This includes choosing their local school board trustees. Over my four years as your locally elected Black Gold School Division trustee in Beaumont, many people have asked: What does a trustee do?
Trustees wear many hats. They are planners, communicators, policy makers, lobbyists, adjudicators and evaluators, just to name a few. An effective trustee is a strong advocate for their community, their school board, and above all for students.
A trustee is part of a team. At Black Gold, there are seven elected trustees representing the municipalities of Leduc, Beaumont, Devon, Warburg, Calmar, Thorsby, New Sarepta, and all areas in between. The trustees have one employee, the superintendent of schools, with whom they work respectfully and collaboratively with to develop and implement the board’s direction.
The role of the board of trustees is not operational, but governance. What does that mean? It means the board sets the vision, goals and policies for the division, while leaving the day-to-day administration to the superintendent and staff. It means the board expects accountability with regards to established goals and respect of its policies.
Trustees are committed to the school division’s core business of inspiring student learning and success. They act for the greater good of the division, of students and families, and community stakeholders.
What are the traits of successful trustees?
Trustees are prepared to put the needs of students first. They are committed to making things better for Alberta’s children. Trustees take an active role in lobbying provincial and federal governing bodies to ensure student needs are placed at the forefront during policy considerations.
Trustees are effective communicators. They ensure that the wishes of their entire community are shared and reflected in the management of the school division. Trustees frequently engage with stakeholders to know what they want and need from the division, and in turn report back to the community about the school board’s plans and decisions.
Trustees are team players. They do not have the authority to make decisions individually; decisions can be made only as a board in public session. While many candidates will choose to run due to personal interest or issue, a trustee must act on the best interests of the entire school division. There is no room for personal agendas.
Trustees are not necessarily education experts. Trustees come from all walks of life. An effective board may be composed of individuals with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences; however they are committed individuals seeking to uphold a strong and successful school division while considering the desires of staff, students, parents and communities.
Black Gold School Division’s core purpose is “To Inspire Success”. This purpose is met while upholding the values of student focused learning, passion, relationships, managing resources responsibly, and supportive environments. We proudly employ over 1200 staff and educate over 12,000 students in 31 schools. If you are interested in learning more about being a trustee, please visit https://www.blackgold.ca/about-bgsd/board/becoming-a-trustee/about-nominations.