Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees serves a critical function in the governance of school boards. It sets the vision and goals, develops and monitors policies, and allocates resources.
The Board of Trustees at the Durham District School Board (DDSB) is made up of 12 trustees: 1 appointed First Nations Representative and 11 trustees who are elected for a four-year term in the Municipal Election. The DDSB also has three student trustees who serve a one-year term and are elected by their peers. While trustees are elected by municipality (2 from Ajax, 1 from Brock/Scugog/Uxbridge, 3 from Oshawa, 2 from Pickering, 3 from Whitby), they work together in their shared commitment to student achievement and well-being. They do this by:
- Attending and participating in meetings of the Board and its Committees
- Bringing concerns of parents, students, and the local community to the attention of the Board
- Entrusting the day-to-day operational management of the Board to its staff through the Director of education
Board and Committee meetings take place regularly throughout the year. Review our Board and Committee meeting schedule and meeting minutes for more information on past and upcoming meetings.
- Chair, Board of Trustees: Tracy Brown
- Vice Chair, Board of Trustees: Deb Oldfield
You may contact each Trustee directly by email or telephone or by contacting the office of the Trustee Services Coordinator at 905-666-6363.
Committees of the Board
Visit the Board of Trustees meeting calendar to view upcoming and past meeting agendas, minutes and recordings.
| Committee of the Whole – Standing |
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The Committee evaluates the Board’s educational programs, seeks community input and opinions, and receives research and reports on curriculum development, assessments and implementation. It also makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees as required.
Membership: All members of the Board of Trustees are members of the Committee of the Whole – Standing Cycle of Meetings: The Committee of the Whole – Standing typically meets on the first Monday of each month, except July, August and December. |
| Board Self-Assessment Committee |
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As set out in the Board of Trustees’ Self-Assessment Policy, the Committee provides a process for Trustees to evaluate their performance and set a proactive framework to support continual growth and increased performance.
Membership (current to June 2026):
Membership (from July 2026):
Cycle of Meetings: Meetings are scheduled on an as needed basis. |
| Director of Education Performance Appraisal Committee |
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As set out in the Director of Education Performance Appraisal Policy and Ontario Regulation 83/24, the Committee works with an external consultant to carry out the Director of Education Performance Appraisal and develop the self-assessment performance evaluation tools for the Director.
Membership (current through June 2026):
Membership (from July 2026):
Cycle of Meetings: The Director of Education performance appraisal is confidential. All meetings are conducted in private, in accordance with the provisions of Section 207(2)(b) of the Education Act. |
| Education Finance Committee |
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The Education Finance Committee oversees the Board’s financial governance responsibilities by developing, and monitoring the annual budget, including transportation. It also advises the Board on expenditures outside the approved budget and provides informed recommendations to the Board of Trustees to approve the annual budget and support sound fiscal decision‑making.
Membership:
Cycle of Meetings: The Education Finance Committee typically meets a minimum of 4-6 times between April and June each year. |
| Governance and Policy Committee |
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The Governance and Policy Committee ensures that all Board policies remain current, accurate, compliant, and aligned with legislation, government requirements, and the Board’s strategic plan. It oversees the review and monitoring of existing policies and development of new policies and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
Membership:
Cycle of Meetings: The Governance and Policy Committee meets monthly throughout the school year, typically on the last Wednesday of the month, with some exceptions. |
Statutory Committees
| Audit Committee |
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The Audit Committee is required by Ontario Regulation 361/10 under the Education Act, which sets out the mandate of the Committee. Membership The Audit Committee is comprised of three Trustees and two External Members and meetings include the Director, Associate Director of Corporate Services, Business staff, External Auditors and Regional Internal Auditors. Trustee Members (elected to a two-year term through November 2026):
Cycle of Meetings The Audit Committee meets quarterly. |
| Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) |
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The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) is required by Ontario Regulation 464/97 under the Education Act, which sets out the mandate of the Committee. SEAC helps the Board protect the rights of students with special learning needs. It provides advice, support and information to parents and guardians of students who require extra support. Membership SEAC is comprised of three Trustees and representatives from local associations with an interest in special education. Trustee Members:
Cycle of Meetings The Special Education Advisory Committee meets monthly throughout the school year, typically on the first Thursday. For more detailed information on the SEAC and their associations, please visit their webpage at Special Education Advisory Committee. |
| Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) |
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The Supervised Alternative Learning Committee (SAL) is required by Ontario Regulation 374/10 under the Education Act, which sets out the mandate of the Committee. Trustee Members:
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| Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) |
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The Parent Involvement Committee is required by Ontario Regulation 612/00 under the Education Act, which sets out the mandate of the Committee. Trustee Members:
Alternate:
Meeting Cycle: The Parent Involvement Committee typically meets every other month during the school year beginning in September. For more detailed information on the PIC and their engagements, please visit their webpage at; Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) |
Advisory and Ad Hoc Committees
| Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee |
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The Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee acts in a strategic advisory role to the Board of Trustees to support the DDSB in addressing intersectional anti-Black racism and to support student achievement and well-being for Black students, as is required under the DDSB’s Human Rights, Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Racism Policy. Trustee Members:
Cycle of Meetings The Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee sets its own schedule of meetings as needed. |
| Human Rights Advisory Committee |
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The Human Rights Advisory Committee acts in a strategic advisory role to the Board of Trustees to support the DDSB in upholding commitments, objectives and responsibilities under the Human Rights, Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Racism Policy. Trustee Members:
Cycle of Meetings The Human Rights Advisory Committee sets its own schedule of meetings as needed. |
| Violence in Schools Ad Hoc Committee |
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The Committee’s mandate is to develop a clear, system‑wide understanding of the nature and extent of violence in schools, along with the structures currently in place to address it. It also examines the practices used to mitigate violence and assesses their impact on school environments.
Membership: All members of the Board of Trustees are members of the Violence in Schools Ad Hoc Committee. Cycle of Meetings The Committee’s Terms of Reference mandate that it meet a minimum of 4 times. Meetings are scheduled as needed. |
Elections of Trustees to Other Associations and Roles
| Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA) |
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Board of Directors Member and Voting Director: Donna Edwards Board of Directors Member and Alternate-Voting Director: Kelly Miller |
| Ignite Durham Learning Foundation (IDLF) |
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Michelle Arseneault |
| Student Trustee Mentor |
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Shailene Panylo |
| Chair’s Designate on the Durham Student Transportation Services Governance Committee |
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Deb Oldfield |
Student trustees
In addition to the publicly elected trustees, 3 student trustees are elected from among the DDSB student body.
