Board Policy 27: Professional Development for Board Trustees (Policy is under Review)

Education Act, R.S.O. 1990 Sections 55 (7),169.1

 

Ontario Education Services Corporation – Trustee Professional Development Modules; Board Governance By-laws; Board Policy 5 Board Members’ Code of Conduct; Board Policy 11 Board Representatives; Board Policy 18 Trustee Travel and Expense Reimbursement; Board Policy 21 Representation of Pupils on the Board and Student Senate; Administrative Procedure (AP) 515 Travel and Expense Reimbursement

 

This policy outlines opportunities and resources to support professional development for board trustees and Student Trustees.

1.0 Notification
Notification of conferences or conventions that may be of interest to trustees of the board will be distributed or communicated from the office of the Director, as the information is available.

2.0 Funding
Funding for professional development (including conferences and conventions and required travel) will be determined on an annual basis during the deliberations of the board’s budget process. This will include amounts designated for Chair, Vice-Chair, OPSBA delegate and board trustees.

3.0 Professional Development
Professional development includes, but is not limited to, attendance at conferences and conventions, courses related to the role of the board member, and the purchase of professional print materials such as books or relevant magazine subscriptions. Trustees are required to complete all legislated professional development requirements and expected to attend all board initiated professional development and orientations.

4.0 Budget
The budget allotment for trustees is distributed on an as-used basis. The board and the treasurer shall monitor the fund on an on-going basis and if concerns arise, board trustees shall decide by consensus how to ensure it is not over-spent. Board approval is required for an expenditure which would cause the total fund to be exceeded. It is recognized that the board’s Ontario Public School Boards’ Association Director and any member of OPSBA’s executive may have higher-than-average expenses in order to attend OPSBA conferences within Ontario.

5.0 Student Trustee Expenses
The approved allotment shall be determined as part of the annual budget process and allocated by the Director of Education or designate (See Board Policy #21 Representation of Pupils on the Board and Student Senate.)

 

6.0 Annual Report
Annually, at the completion of the fiscal year, the amount expended by each board member in each category specified by this policy shall be reported to the board.

 

Issued January 2026