School Board Trustee elections are held simultaneously with elections for Hastings Highlands Municipal Council.

Elected Trustees make up a school board. The number of Trustees on a board is based on the population in the board’s area of jurisdiction.

Within Hastings Highlands there presently are:

• English Language Public School Board trustees 

• English Language Catholic School Board trustee 

• French Language Public School Board trustee 

• French Language Catholic School Board trustee 

For the position of School Board Trustee you must be:

• A Canadian citizen;

• At least 18 years of age;

• A resident in the area of jurisdiction* (see question: What are the areas of jurisdiction for each of the four school boards);

• Eligible to vote for the school board; and

• Not disqualified to hold office by any legislation.

You must not be:

• A clerk, treasurer, deputy-clerk or deputy-treasurer of any municipality within the area of jurisdiction of the school board except those on an unpaid leave of absence;

• A member of the Provincial Legislature, the Federal House of Commons or Senate who has not resigned from their office by the close of nominations. Proof of resignation must be provided by the close of nominations; and

• A candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement(s) in the last municipal election or by-election.

School Board Employees

Employees of any school boards (including supply teachers) are disqualified from being elected as school board trustee or from holding office on any school boards, except during a leave of absence. The employee must be on a leave of absence before filing their nomination paper. They must provide the Municipal Clerk documentation showing that they have taken the leave of absence and the effective date.

To run for School Board Trustee you must live in the area of the jurisdiction. This means you may be eligible to run for a School Board Trustee seat in Hastings Highlands even if you aren't a resident of Hastings Highlands (but are a resident within the school board elsewhere). It also means that a resident of Hastings Highlands may run for an office outside of Hastings Highlands, but still within the school board.

Examples:

• A resident of Township of Limerick may run for the English Public School Board Trustee Office for the Trustee position on the ballot in the Hastings Highlands election (both the resident and the office are within the Ward of North Hastings for the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board jurisdiction). Nomination papers to be filed here at the Municipality of Hastings Highlands.

• A resident of the Township of Stirling-Rawdon may run for the English Separate School Board Trustee Office for the Trustee position on the ballot in the Hastings Highlands election (both the resident and the office are within the Ward for the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board jurisdiction). Nomination papers to be filed at the Municipality of Tweed.

Section 219 of the Education Act states:

Qualifications of members

219 (1) A person is qualified to be elected as a member of a district school board or school authority if the person is qualified to vote for members of that district school board or that school authority and is resident in its area of jurisdiction.  1997, c. 31, s. 112.

Same

(2) A person who is qualified under subsection (1) to be elected as a member of a district school board or school authority is qualified to be elected as a member of that district school board or school authority for any geographic area in the district school board’s or school authority’s area of jurisdiction, regardless of which positions on that district school board or school authority the person may be qualified to vote for.

Nominations for the English-Language Public School Trustee are accepted by appointment only at the HH Municipal Office (33011 Hwy 62N, Maynooth, ON). The last day to file a nomination is August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

The Municipality of Tweed runs the election for the English-Language Separate School Trustee. Please contact:
Returning Officer – Lori Crellin
255 Metcalfe Street
Tweed, ON  K0K 3J0
613-478-3525
www.tweed.ca

School Board Trustee Nominations follow most of the same procedures as a candidate for Municipal Council. The one major exception is the requirement for 25 endorsements which is mandatory for the Office of Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillor, but not required for School Board Trustees.

For more information on candidate nominations visit the Candidates Section of our website. 

For more information on running for a School Board Trustee, visit the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association website (Link to follow) that offers various guides and tips for School Board Trustees.

The Ontario Education Services Corporation has also compiled a Guide for School Board Trustee Candidates (Link to follow).

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs has produced a Guide for candidates for municipal council and school board offices (Link to follow).

You can also visit the four School Board websites:

• Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board

• Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board

• Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario 

• Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est