G100 – Governance Policy – Foundations

Legal References:

  • Education Act
  • Relevant statutory and regulatory requirements

Related References:

Effective Date: April 2006

Revisions: February 9, 2015, September 17, 2025

Reviewed:

1. Purpose

1.1 The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) Board of Trustees is responsible for the delivery and quality of educational programs and services and will act in accordance with governance policies and in support of the Multi-Year Strategic Plan. 

2. Definitions

2.1 The following definitions are used in applying the practice of governance policies:

2.1.1 Administrative/Operational – the collective plans, strategies and actions of the staff, through the Director of Education, that inform the policies, directions and priorities approved by the Board of Trustees. This includes reporting to the Board of Trustees on the results achieved as per individual policy requirements or as directed by the Board of Trustees

2.1.2 Board of Trustees – the governance body of the Waterloo Region District School Board.

2.1.3 Board Policy – the framework for principles and actions that guide the governing and monitoring of the operations of the WRDSB.

2.1.4 Director of Education – the senior staff leadership position as defined by the Education Act, acting as the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Education Officer of the Waterloo Region District School Board. The Director of Education is the sole employee of the Board of Trustees.

2.1.5 Governance – the act of establishing and assessing the effectiveness of the policies, directions and priorities of the Board.

2.1.6 Governance Policy – the processes, procedures and practices that the Board of Trustees uses to govern the Board.

2.1.7 Trustee – a person elected, or acclaimed, or appointed to the office of Trustee on the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Election Act and the Education Act.

2.1.8 WRDSB – the Waterloo Region District School Board as a system.

3. Application

3.1. The Board of Trustees of the WRDSB will govern the organization according to the vision, mission and strategic directions of the Multi-year Strategic Plan.

3.2 The Board of Trustees is guided by the following governance principles as well as to the Principles of Business Conduct contained in Administrative Procedure 4360.

3.3 The board of trustees strives to:

3.3.1 engage students, caregivers/families/parents, staff and the community to help develop and support the strategic plan;

3.3.2 demonstrate transparency and accountability in relation to the achievement of the strategic directions;

3.3.3 focus policy development on student achievement and student and staff well-being;

3.3.4 develop policies and support staff decisions that provide rich learning opportunities and engaging forms of instruction for all students;

3.3.5 contribute to the development of productive working relationships with and among staff, students, caregivers/families/parents, community stakeholders, provincial education officials and stakeholders;

3.3.6 provide orientation opportunities for new trustees and ongoing learning opportunities  for all trustees;

3.3.7 develop and sustain productive working relationships among its members;

3.3.8 respect the role of director and senior team in their operational responsibilities across the WRDSB;

3.3.9 hold the director accountable for meeting the directions within the Multi-Year Strategic Plan and upholding the Education Act;

3.3.10 hold individual trustees accountable for supporting decisions of the Board once those decisions have been made.

G100 Governance Policy – Foundations