At their meeting on September 3, 2014, Halton District School Board Trustees approved two motions setting the stage for the incoming Board that will be formed following next month’s municipal election.
Trustees approved a new rate for trustee honoraria that takes effect December 1, 2014 when the 2014-2018 Board begins its term. Trustees will receive an annual honoraria of $16,770.35 while the Chair will receive a total of $24,738.95 and the Vice-chair a total of $20,754.65.
Ontario Regulation 357/06 dealing with trustee honoraria was issued in 2006, outlining the process by which school boards calculate their trustee honoraria. The honoraria rates are established by funding provided by the Ministry and based on student enrolment (which will be adjusted annually as enrolment changes). These rates are set in Board policy and are subject to the provisions of Bill 16, and the Public Sector Compensation Restraint to Protect Public Services Act, 2010 (the Restraint Act). The last change to the trustee honoraria rate was in 2006.
“Trustees’ salaries come from an specific amount of money from the Ministry of Education, which is designated for Board administration and governance,” said Chair Kelly Amos. “This money cannot be used for anything else and does not take away funding for students or program use. Halton District School Board Trustees are responsible for a public school system that covers Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills, and is made up of 103 schools, 60,000 students and approximately 5,500 employees. These numbers are increasing every year.”
Also at the September 3, 2014 Board meeting, Trustees approved a motion to create a safety plan/protocol for municipal, provincial and federal election days. These protocols, when established, will be communicated to employees and parents prior to the day of the election. Further, the Board will seek financial assistance from municipal, provincial and/or federal governmental sources to assist in covering costs associated with initiating these safety plans.
Friday, September 12, 2014 at 2 p.m. is the deadline to register as a candidate for school board trustee. To learn more about registering as a trustee candidate for the election, click here.