Durham District School Board (DDSB) currently has 140 operating sites serving over 80,000 students: 114 elementary schools, 18 secondary schools and eight others, including Outdoor Education Centres, Durham Alternative Secondary School, Education & Community Partner Program/Grove School, Alternative Attendance, and Continuing Education. Three new elementary schools (two in Whitby, one in Oshawa) and one new secondary school in Oshawa will be opening in fall 2026.

DDSB’s Board of Trustees is made up of 11 elected members, one appointed First Nations Representative member and three Student Trustees, who work together to carry out the duties of the Board as defined by the Education Act and other legislation.

This happens through participation in meetings of the Board and its Committees where trustees receive reports, engage in discussion, debate and decision making around matters within the Board’s purview. The work also happens in other ways too: trustees bring concerns of parents, students, and the local community to the attention of the Board and entrust the day-to-day operational management of the Board to its staff through the Director of Education.

Yes. Many trustees have careers, family and personal commitments, and other interests.

While most Board and Committee meetings at DDSB take place in the evening, there are occasional daytime meetings and activities trustees are invited to such as flag raisings, provincial announcements and media events, and planning meetings with staff, which are generally, though not always, optional.

Being a trustee generally requires a fairly significant time commitment. It varies, but minimally trustees can expect to participate in at least four evening meetings, learning sessions and community events per month. At busy times of year, for example May and June when year-end activities are taking place, there will be opportunities for trustees to attend several meetings and events per week, some of which take place during the day, such as a graduation and completion celebrations. 

Trustees also need preparation time in advance of meetings to review agendas and reports so that they can actively participate in discussion and debate. Time to communicate by phone and email with members of the DDSB community in response to questions, concerns and other matters is also necessary. 

2025 changes to the Education Act mean that in person attendance by trustees at certain meetings is required. These requirements apply to all Regular Committee of the Whole, Board, and Standing Committee meetings, known as Mandatory Meetings, which typically take place at the Education Centre in Whitby on the first and third Mondays of each month from September to June. There are some exemptions available if a trustee needs to miss a Mandatory Meeting or can only participate electronically.   

The role also includes optional participation in committees such as Education Finance, Governance and Policy, Board Self-Assessment, Special Education Advisory, Parent Involvement. 

Bill 101, Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, outlines potential changes to the role and responsibilities of trustees which are expected to limit governance authority and highlight the main role of trustee as community representative. Proposed changes include: 

• Narrowing the scope of trustee duties to focus primarily on representing parents and students, rather than participating in broad governance or strategic decision‑making. Potential examples of this narrowed scope could include that trustees will not be responsible for approving and monitoring the annual budget and their role in central bargaining processes will be significantly reduced or removed entirely.  
• Imposing additional limits on discretionary expenditures/reimbursements and new requirements for trustees to self-fund some association membership fees. 
• Reducing the trustee honorarium to a maximum of $10,000 per year. 
• Removing the authority of the Board of Trustees to dismiss the CEO (appointing the CEO is expected to be a retained responsibility). 

Bill 101 received Royal Assent on Thursday, May 7, 2026. Details of its implementation, including how and when the DDSB Board of Trustees will be affected, are not yet confirmed. 

Yes. Onboarding, training, and professional development opportunities are provided to all trustees during the four-year term. Minimally, onboarding and first year training will include a mock board meeting, trustee role and responsibilities, Robert’s Rules of Order, preparing for the annual organizational meeting where leadership positions and committee memberships are established, legal obligations (Board Member Code of Conduct, conflict of interest, Integrity Commissioner, privacy/confidentiality, records management), understanding the difference between governance and operations, policies, and more.

Learn more about us by reviewing our website: 

• DDSB
• DDSB Board of Trustees: information about DDSB’s Committees and links to meeting agendas, recordings, and minutes.
• DDSB’s Bylaws, establish the requirements and parameters within which the Board of Trustees operates. The Board Member Code of Conduct sets the standard for trustee behaviour during the term.
• DDSB Plans and Reports: learn about our Multi-Year Strategic Plan, annual budget development, student achievement, special education, and mental health plans, the multi-year accommodation plan which details growth management, new schools and child care spaces coming soon, and more.
• DDSB Policies and Procedures: links to all policies and procedures, including what’s known as the “Big 3” Indigenous Education Policy and Procedure, Human Rights, Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Racism Policy and Procedures, Safe and Respectful Workplace and Harassment Prevention Policy and Procedure. 
• Engage DDSB: new in April 2026, this is the hub for community engagement. Various projects and initiatives are posted here so that members of our community know how they can get involved and what their feedback will be used for. Projects include new policies under review, school naming processes, and boundary reviews.  

Contact Gillian Venning, Coordinator of Trustee Services 

gillian.venning@ddsb.ca | 905-666-6363

• A resident within the jurisdiction of the Durham District School Board;
• A Canadian citizen;
• At least 18 years old;
• Not legally prohibited from voting; and,
• Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.

Review the 2026 Candidates’ Guide for information on who is not eligible to be a Trustee candidate

• Friday, May 1, 2026: first day to file a nomination for an office
• Friday, August 21, 2026, 2:00 p.m.: deadline to file or withdraw a nomination for an office
• Monday, August 24, 2026, 4:00 p.m.: deadline for municipalities to verify candidate eligibility and certify or reject nominations
• Monday, October 26, 2026: election day
• Sunday, November 15, 2026: new term of office begins (DDSB Trustees will be sworn in on Monday, November 16, 2026 at the Inaugural Board meeting)

The nomination fee for school board trustee is $100 and is paid at the time of filing along with the Nomination Form.  Nominations may be filed in person by the candidate (or by an agent representative) at the applicable municipal office between May 1 and August 21, 2026 during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and between 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on August 21.

To file nominations, a nomination form must be provided to the Clerk, in addition to the nomination fee at the following locations:

• Ajax: Office of the Clerk, 65 Harwood Avenue South, Ajax, by appointment (walk-ins accepted only on August 21). Book an appointment to file.

• Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge: Office of the Clerk (Township of Scugog), 181 Perry Street, Port Perry

• Oshawa: Office of the Clerk, 5th Floor, Rundle Tower, City Hall, 50 Centre Street South, Oshawa

• Pickering: Office of the City Clerk, 1 The Esplanade, Pickering

• Whitby: Office of the Town Clerk, 575 Rossland Road East, Whitby. Candidates are encouraged to book an appointment to file.

Detailed information about campaigning and spending limits is provided in the 2026 Candidates’ Guide.