DDSB Elects Chair and Committee Membership for 2021

At the Board Meeting of the Durham District School Board (DDSB) held on Monday, December 7, 2020, trustees elected a new Chair and committee members for 2021.

Townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge Trustee Carolyn Morton will serve as Chair of the Board for 2021, taking over from Pickering Trustee, Chris Braney who served as Chair for 2020.

Carolyn Morton is a retired Durham educator, having taught more than 36 years with the DDSB and was first elected as a Trustee in 2010. She has previously served as of Chair the Education Finance Committee for five years and has also been elected to the role of Vice Chair of the Board in the past. One of Chair Morton’s top priorities has always been the well-being of students and staff. She is extremely proud of the Mental Health Strategic Plan with her greatest satisfaction coming from working on the Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) committee. Chair Morton is in her third term as a Trustee with the DDSB.

Additional results of the Internal Elections include:

• Christine Thatcher, Trustee for the Town of Whitby, was voted Vice Chair of the Board  
• Patrice Barnes, Trustee for the Town of Ajax (Wards 1 & 2), was voted Vice Chair of Standing Committee
• Donna Edwards, Trustee for the Town of Ajax (Ward 3), was voted Chair of the Education Finance Committee

 The Board of Trustees hold internal elections annually each December.

A complete list of Board Committees and Trustee Liaisons can be found on the DDSB’s website at https://www.ddsb.ca/en/about-ddsb/resources/Documents/Trustee-Committee-Membership.pdf

School Trustees are responsible for the operation of the public school system and represent seven of Durham Region’s municipalities. The Board also has three Student Trustees. Public School Trustees are the critical link between communities and school Boards. They ensure public schools meet the diverse needs of students in their communities. Together, Trustees are responsible to their communities for the quality of education provided in local schools within an approved financial framework.

Quotes:

“As we face unique challenges in the middle of a global pandemic, I see our role as Trustees to utilize our skill sets and knowledge bases to help create safe and welcoming learning environments where our students and staff can grow and thrive. I look forward to working cooperatively and collaboratively with my colleagues on the Board and with staff to help carry out the critical work of the Durham District School Board and provide good governance. Together, we will work to Ignite Learning.”

• Carolyn Morton, Chair of the Board

“We are grateful to Chris Braney for serving as Chair of the Board during this year of immense change and for his many contributions to a strong public education system in Durham. Working together with Chair Morton and the Board, we will continue our efforts to support the needs of the system as we stay focused on our strategic priorities of Student Success, Equity, Innovation, Engagement, Leadership and Well-Being.”

• Norah Marsh, Director of Education

The Durham District School Board (DDSB) is responsible for public education in the rural settings of Uxbridge, Brock and Scugog Townships and the urban settings of Ajax, Whitby, Pickering and Oshawa. The DDSB employs 6,900 teaching and educational services staff. With 133 elementary and secondary schools and learning centres, the DDSB accommodates more than 70,000 regular day students and thousands more who take advantage of a wide variety of continuing education and adult credit courses. More information can be found on the DDSB’s website at www.ddsb.ca. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @DurhamDSB, Instagram @durhamschools and YouTube at DurhamDSB.