STUDENT TRUSTEE T.02

Date Approved: April 7, 2005 – Board

Dates of Amendment: Apr. 22, 2004 - Board; Nov. 15, 2001 -BD; BM-HR Jan. 11, 2001; BM May 13, 1999; BM p 145, May 21 1998.

Cross Reference: Ontario Regulation 461/97 Pupil Representation on Boards

Policy

In accordance with the provisions of Ontario Regulation 461/97, Pupil Representation on Boards, the Toronto Catholic District School Board will establish and maintain a Pupil Representative position on its Board of Trustees. The Pupil Representative, hereinafter, shall be referred to as the Student Trustee.

The Toronto Catholic District School Board recognizes the benefits accrued when students have an opportunity to share and represent the perspectives and insights of their various school communities. To assist the Student Trustee in garnering these perspectives and insights, the Catholic Student Leadership Impact Team (CSLIT) is established. Each Secondary School shall have a representative.

Regulations

1. The Board will appoint a Student Trustee in May of each calendar year to serve a one-year term commencing the following academic year (September 1 st through August 31 st). However, following ratification by the Board of the appointment of the Student Trustee Elect in May, the Student Trustee Elect will be entitled to attend Board and Committee meetings in May, June, July and August along with the Student Trustee Incumbent in order to familiarize themselves with the duties of the Office of Student trustee and the issues which are before the Board and which are of concern to and have impact on the student population of the Board.
2. Each secondary school will be entitled to put forward one candidate for election for the position of Student Trustee.
3. Each candidate for the position of Student Trustee shall meet the following qualification criteria:
   • The student trustee must be a Roman/Eastern rite Catholic student enrolled at a Toronto Catholic District School Board secondary school, and during his or her term of office must be a full-time student;
   • must receive the written approval of his or her school principal to stand for election and present a letter of reference from either one of his or her teachers or guidance counsellors;
   • must be maintaining a grade average of 70% or better at the time he or she becomes a candidate for the position and must maintain a 70% average throughout his or her term of office; and
   • must meet the eligibility requirements within the Education Act related to Catholic District School Board Trustees, excluding those related to age and residence.
4. The Superintendent of Education, Curriculum and Accountability Department or designate, shall establish procedures to assist the student trustee in fulfilling his/her roles and responsibilities.
5. An annual discretionary budget of $5,000 will be established for the purpose of reimbursing the Student Trustee for expenditures incurred related to his/her responsibilities as a Student Trustee.
6. The Student Trustee will have access to taxi chits for late night Board meetings and special circumstances (the cost of which will be excluded from the Student Trustee budget) to be determined by the Chair of the Board or the Director of Education.
7. The Computer or other technical equipment provided to the Student Trustee may be purchased at its then depreciated value by the Student Trustee at the end of the Student Trustee's term or given back to the Board.
8. The successful candidate elected/appointed to the position of Student Trustee will have the following rights/responsibilities:

   Rights:

   • to receive public session materials for all Board and Standing Committee meetings; attend and participate (but not vote) in all public session meetings of the Board and Standing Committees; In addition the Student Trustee shall have a non-binding, advisory vote during all regular public Board/Committee meetings and such vote will be recorded in the minutes upon the request of the Student Trustees.
   • be reimbursed, upon request, for travel to and from Board and Standing Committee meetings and on other Board related business at the Board's travel rate in effect at such time;
   • be reimbursed, upon submission of receipts for out-of-pocket expenses related to Board business within guidelines and allowable limits.
   • Shall upon request be granted a Canadian World Politics, Grade 12, University Preparation (CPW4U) course to be administered by the staff liaison for the work in his/her term.

   Responsibilities:

   • to promote a student voice on the TCDSB;
   • to inform the student body at large through liaison with and seeking advice from the TCDSB Catholic School Leadership Impact Team (CSLIT);
   • attend public session meetings of the Board and its Standing committees;
   • demonstrate confidentiality and discretion where required and act in accordance with the Board's Policies, By-laws, and Rules-of-Order; and
   • uphold and promote the Board's Mission and Vision in performance of his/her duties.
   • The student trustee, once sworn in by the Board, the student trustee shall be the Chair of the Catholic Student Leadership Impact Team. The CSLIT will hold at least one meeting per month.
   • The Student Trustee will report regularly to the Board of Trustees and to the CSLIT on their respective activities. At the end of his/her term, the student trustee will provide a report re: issues of concern to students.
   • The student trustee will participate in Catholic student leadership development activities associated with the fulfillment of the roles and responsibilities of the student trustee including the organization of the "Voices That Challenge" student trustee conference.
   • The student trustee will participate in Catholic student leadership development activities associated with the fulfillment of the roles and responsibilities of the student trustee.
   • The student trustee will hold membership in the English Catholic Board Council of the Ontario Student Trustees' Association.
9. Process for election of Student Trustee.
   • The student trustee will be elected by representatives of each secondary school at a Catholic Student Leadership Impact Team meeting no later than April 30 th in each school year. For the election to be valid, there must be at least 17 secondary schools present at the meeting where the student trustee is elected. Each secondary school is entitled to nominate one representative to run for the position of student trustee. Each secondary school is allowed to have one vote in the election of student trustee but must be represented at the election meeting.
   • Notice seeking the nomination of one candidate for the position of student trustee from each TCDSB Catholic secondary school is sent to each school principal and Student Councils for posting and communication to students in March of each school year.
   • Each Secondary School, via the Principal and Student Council, is requested to appoint either the President of the Student Council or his/her designate to sit on a Student Trustee Selection Committee for the purpose of reviewing applications for the position of Student Trustee and nominating a candidate for the position.
   • Applications will first be received and pre-screened by staff assigned by the Office the Director of Education to ensure each applicant its eligible under the requirements of the Board Policy, Education Act and Regulations.
   • An all-candidates/election meeting will be held in April of each school year at which time a presentation will be made by the nominees and a vote by the school representatives will be conducted under the supervision and guidance of staff.
   • Where a vacancy occurs, the CSLIT will recommend to the Board, a student for the balance of the student trustee's term.
   • The application papers of all student trustee candidates shall be sent to all designated voting representatives and members of the Catholic Student Leadership Impact Team as a form of communicating the candidates' election platform to the student population.
10. The TCDSB Student Trustee shall be required to wear a uniform which is representative of all TCDSB schools, when in attendance at Board or Board Committee meetings, when representing the Board at either internal or external board-related business meetings, or when meeting with other students in the Board in the capacity of student trustee. When representing the School Board, the Student Trustee should be expected to wear suitable attire which is appropriate to the occasion: e.g. school uniform, Student Trustee uniform or business casual.

    The Student Trustee uniform shall consist of:

    • Grey or black school uniform type pants of the student's choice, or optionally the local school kilt for female student trustee;
    • A pullover for use in cooler conditions, or a short-sleeve golf-style shirt for warmer conditions, designed to encompass one or both of the Board approved logo's in either the circular or horizontal design as shown below:
      
    • variety of vests, pullovers and shirts are available for this purpose which include the Board logo for use by the Student Trustee;
    • The pullover may be worn with a white shirt or blouse of the student's choice;
    • Appropriate dress shoes of the student's choice.

    The Board shall provide annually for a budget from the Trustee Services budget for the purchase of Student Trustee uniform items for use and retention by the student trustee during his/her term of office.