Trustee Code of Ethics
Adopted 1983 Annual Convention
As a member of my local Board of Education, representing all the citizens of my community and responsible to the electorate through the democratic process, I recognize:
- That my fellow citizens have entrusted me, through the electoral process, with the educational development of the children and youth of the community.
- That trustees are the children's advocates and my first and greatest concern is the best interest of each and every one of these children without distinction as to who they are or what their background may be.
- That trustees are educational leaders who realize that the future welfare of the community, of the Province, and of Canada depends in the largest measure upon the quality of education we provide in the public schools to fit the needs of every learner.
- That legally, the authority of the Board is derived from the Province, which ultimately controls the organization and operation of the school district and which determines the degree of discretionary power left with the Board and the people of this community for the exercise of local autonomy.
- That I must never neglect my personal obligation to the community and my legal obligation to the Province, nor surrender these responsibilities to any other person, group, or organization but that, beyond these, I have a moral and civic obligation to the nation which can remain strong and free only so long as public schools in Canada are kept free and strong.
In view of the foregoing, I will:
- Devote time, thought and study to the duties of a school board member so that I may render effective and creditable service.
- Work with my fellow board members in a spirit of harmony and cooperation in spite of differences of opinion that arise during vigorous debate of points of issue.
- Consider information received from all sources and base my personal decision upon all available facts in every case, unswayed by partisan bias of any kind, and therefore, abide by and uphold the final majority decision of the board.
- Work together with my fellow board members to communicate to the electorate all the facts about their schools, to the end that they will readily provide the finest possible school program, school staff, and school facilities.
- Provide leadership to my community through setting goals and developing policies for the educational program and by regularly evaluating these in the light of the wishes and expectations of the community.
- Remember at all times that as an individual I have no legal authority outside the meeting of the board, and to conduct my relationships with the school staff, the community, and all media of communication on the basis of this fact.
- Resist every temptation and outside pressure to use my position as a school board member to benefit either myself or any other individual or agency apart from the total interest of the school jurisdiction.
- Recognize that the primary function of the board is to establish the policies by which the schools are to be administered, and that the administration of the educational program and conduct of school business shall be left to the employed superintendent of schools and his/her professional and non-professional staff.
- Encourage active co-operation by citizens, organizations, and the media in the district with respect to establishing policy on current school operations and proposed future developments.
- Support my provincial and national school board association for the future of trusteeship in this province and the nation.
- Provide to the best of my ability effective school board service to my community in a spirit of teamwork and devotion to public education as the greatest instrument for the preservation and perpetuation of our representative democracy.
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Becoming a Trustee