This handbook outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Student Trustee(s) and the Trustee Mentors in the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB).

Responsibilities of the Student Trustees:

  1. Receive and review agenda packages.
  2. Attend:
    1. Student Achievement & Well-being Standing Committee Meetings (SAWBSC)
    2. Public Board Meetings,
    3. In-camera Board Meetings, except for those In Camera meetings excluded under the Education Act s. 55 (5);
  3. Participate in public discussions of the Board;
  4. Have their vote recorded for the purpose of public record and for accountability to the student body;
  5. Prepare motions or amendments to motions to be submitted by a Trustee on their behalf;
  6. Serve on ad hoc (when necessary or needed) committees of the Board, as invited;
  7. Act with decorum and meet the expectations of all elected Trustees as outlined in G201 – Trustee Code of Conduct;
  8. Notify the Board during public meetings of any direct or indirect conflict of interest they may have in any matter being discussed by the Board;
  9. Comply with legislation governing the attendance of Trustees at public meetings of the Board;
  10. Provide co-chair leadership throughout the year at Student Roundtables
  11. Provide a verbal report to the Board of Trustees after each Student Roundtable meeting;
  12. If a Student Trustee is unable to perform the duties of the role due to unexcused absences or other incidents that may impact their continued participation, a meeting will be scheduled with the Student Trustee Mentors, Chair, and Director of Education to discuss plans for the remaining term of office.

Student Trustee Supports

  1. Two Trustee mentors will be identified each year in November, but they will assume their responsibilities at the end of the following June in alignment with the election of the new Student Trustees.
    1. Their role is to guide the Student Trustees throughout their term of office. For meetings held in person, the Trustee mentor will be assigned seating next to the Student Trustees at the Board table.
  2. As appropriate, Student Trustees will be provided with resources such as administrative support and internet electronic communications (Gmail).

Student Trustee Re-Election

  1. When one of the two current Student Trustees is running for re-election, they will not participate in the meeting or any prior preparation. This includes the pre-election seminar or any election-related presentations or meetings. The remaining Student Trustee will chair the election process.
  2. When both of the current Student Trustees are running for re-election, they will not participate in the meeting or any prior preparation. The Trustee Mentor(s) and/or an identified Superintendent will chair the election process.

Responsibilities of Trustee Mentor(s)

Responsibilities include the following:

  1. Appointed to serve as a mentor to the Student Trustees;
  2. Provide guidance and orientation to the role of Student Trustees;
  3. Aid in understanding of Board meeting procedures;
  4. Answer relevant questions from Student Trustees;
  5. Help to create a welcoming atmosphere, such that Student Trustees feel more comfortable speaking at the Board table and Student Roundtable discussion;
  6. Encourage Student Trustees to share thoughts at the Board table;
  7. Inform Student Trustees as to who to contact in the event of absence from meetings;
  8. Provide Student Trustees with objective and pertinent information about topics discussed at the Board table;
  9. Meet with Student Trustees regularly throughout their term;
  10. Help Student Trustees to better provide student voice to the Board;
  11. Debrief after any meetings where Student Trustees wish to discuss the contents or course of the meeting;
  12. Assist Student Trustees to prepare agendas for Student meetings;
  13. Attend Student meetings;

Related References

  1. Board Policy 3006 – Student Trustees and Student Representation Within the Board

Handbook Revisions

Any changes to the Student Trustee Handbook must be approved by the current Student Trustees, Student Trustee Mentors, The Chair of the Board and the Manager of Corporate Services.

Last revised January 2026