School board
Halton Catholic District School Board
Governs Halton Catholic District School Board area
Official website (hcdsb.org) Report a problem with this page
Source: data.ontario.ca, checkedHalton Catholic District School Board in plain words
- What it's for
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A district school board runs its schools: it must promote student achievement and well-being, deliver effective education programs, look after the board's resources and set a multi-year plan.
Education Act, s. 169.1 · Applies to every Ontario district school board
- What it can't do
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It works under the Education Act and its regulations, and it does not set education property tax rates, which the provincial Minister of Finance sets by regulation.
Education Act, ss. 169.1 and 257.12 · Applies to every Ontario district school board
- Who it answers to
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Trustees are elected by local voters at the regular municipal elections held every four years. The Minister of Education can direct an investigation of a board and, in circumstances set out in the Act, take control of the administration of its affairs.
Municipal Elections Act, 1996, ss. 3 and 4; Education Act, ss. 230.1 and 230.3 · Applies to every Ontario district school board
- Where its money comes from
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Mostly provincial grants, made under regulations from money the legislature appropriates, together with education property taxes at rates the province sets.
Education Act, ss. 234 and 257.12 · Applies to every Ontario district school board
- Shares responsibility with
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Works with the Ontario government, which funds boards, sets tax rates for school purposes and can intervene in a board's affairs.
Education Act, ss. 230.3, 234 and 257.12 · Applies to every Ontario district school board
Next vote
- in 14 days General election · Trustee
- in 14 days General election · Trustee · 3 candidates
- in 14 days General election · Trustee · 2 candidates
- in 14 days General election · Trustee · 2 candidates
- in 14 days General election · Trustee · 2 candidates
- in 14 days General election · Trustee · 3 candidates
Who sits on it
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Chair
Chosen by the board from among its members
- Marvin Duarte Chair
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Vice-Chair
Chosen by the board from among its members
- Janet O'Hearn-Czarnota Vice-Chair
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9 trustees
Elected
- Brenda Agnew Trustee
- Chris Saunders Trustee
- Helena Karabela Trustee
- Janet O'Hearn-Czarnota Trustee
- Kirsten Kelly Trustee
- Marvin Duarte Trustee
- Patrick Murphy Trustee
- Robert Kennedy Trustee
- Trish Powell Trustee
Chris Saunders was acclaimed as Trustee on August 24, 2026. No vote was needed: they were the only candidate.
Sourced · checked : show the source for each fact
Sources for who sits on it
- Chair ontario.ca · checked
- Marvin Duarte as Chair hcdsb.org · checked
- Vice-Chair ontario.ca · checked
- Janet O'Hearn-Czarnota as Vice-Chair hcdsb.org · checked
- Trustee
ontario.ca
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hcdsb.org · checked - Brenda Agnew as Trustee
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hcdsb.org · checked - Chris Saunders as Trustee
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hcdsb.org · checked - Helena Karabela as Trustee
ontario.ca
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hcdsb.org · checked - Janet O'Hearn-Czarnota as Trustee
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hcdsb.org · checked - Kirsten Kelly as Trustee
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hcdsb.org · checked - Marvin Duarte as Trustee
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hcdsb.org · checked - Patrick Murphy as Trustee
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hcdsb.org · checked - Robert Kennedy as Trustee
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hcdsb.org · checked - Trish Powell as Trustee
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hcdsb.org · checked
Contact
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Head office
802 Drury Lane
Burlington, ON L7R 2Y2- Phone 905-632-6300
- Web hcdsb.org
- Languages English
What it can do
- Run schools
Governs elementary and secondary English-language instruction in Roman Catholic separate schools in its area: provides instruction and adequate accommodation for pupils entitled to attend, runs full-day kindergarten, keeps schools open for the school year, and appoints principals and teachers (Education Act ss. 58.1(2)(a), 170(1) paras. 6, 6.2, 11, 12).
- Special education
Provides special education programs and services for exceptional pupils, directly or by agreement with another board (Education Act s. 170(1) para. 7).
- Multi-year plan and board policies
Must promote student achievement and well-being, a positive and inclusive school climate and the prevention of bullying; sets policies, adopts and publishes a multi-year plan, and monitors the director of education (Education Act s. 169.1).
- Budget
Adopts the board's annual estimates (budget) and may not run an in-year deficit beyond the regulated limit without the Minister's approval (Education Act ss. 231-232).
- Director of education and staff
Employs a director of education and supervisory officers (s. 280). Since 2026 the director of an English-language board is its chief executive officer, sits on the board as a non-voting member, and cannot be dismissed without the Minister's written approval (Education Act ss. 280(2), 283.0.1, 283.0.2).
- School buildings and sites
Keeps school buildings and grounds in repair, insures them, and acquires sites and builds or alters schools subject to the Minister's policies and regulations (Education Act ss. 170(1) para. 8, 195).
- Student transportation
May provide transportation for its pupils to and from school (Education Act s. 190).
- School councils
Must establish a school council for each of its schools (Education Act s. 170(1) para. 17.1).
- Provincial oversight
The Minister of Education may direct the board, investigate it, and take control of its affairs by order; a supervisor appointed by the Minister then exercises the board's powers in place of the trustees (Education Act ss. 230.1-230.3, 230.15).
- Religious education
May establish and maintain programs and courses of study in religious education for pupils in all its schools (Education Act s. 52).
Sourced · checked : show the source for each fact
Sources for what it can do
- Run schools ontario.ca · checked
- Special education ontario.ca · checked
- Multi-year plan and board policies ontario.ca · checked
- Budget ontario.ca · checked
- Director of education and staff ontario.ca · checked
- School buildings and sites ontario.ca · checked
- Student transportation ontario.ca · checked
- School councils ontario.ca · checked
- Provincial oversight ontario.ca · checked
- Religious education ontario.ca · checked
Sources
- data.ontario.ca · checked Ontario Ministry of Education, School board and school authority contact information (school_board_contact_list_september2026_en/fr, updated 2026-09-22): board number, official name, language, type, head office address, phone, fax, website For: Halton Catholic District School Board, Head office
- ontario.ca · checked Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2: Education Act, s. 169.1. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it's for
- ontario.ca · checked Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2: Education Act, ss. 169.1 and 257.12. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it can't do
- ontario.ca · checked Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2: Municipal Elections Act, 1996, ss. 3 and 4; Education Act, ss. 230.1 and 230.3. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Who it answers to
- ontario.ca · checked Municipal Elections Act, 1996, S.O. 1996, c. 32, Sched.: Municipal Elections Act, 1996, ss. 3 and 4; Education Act, ss. 230.1 and 230.3. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Who it answers to
- ontario.ca · checked Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2: Education Act, ss. 234 and 257.12. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Where its money comes from
- ontario.ca · checked Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2: Education Act, ss. 230.3, 234 and 257.12. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Shares responsibility with
- ontario.ca · checked Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2, consolidated on e-Laws from 2026-09-22 (last amendment 2026, c. 4): ss. 1(1) definitions of supporters, 1(8)-(10) entitlement to vote, 58.1 (district school boards, 5 to 12 members), 58.8-58.9 (who elects each kind of board), 169.1-171 (duties and powers), 190, 195, 230.1-230.15 (provincial supervision), 231-232 (estimates), 280, 283.0.1-283.0.2 (director of education) For: Run schools, Special education, Multi-year plan and board policies, Budget, Director of education and staff and 5 more
- ontario.ca · checked Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2 (consolidated from 2026-09-22): s. 58.1(10)-(11) a district school board has 5 to 12 members, not counting First Nation trustees under s. 188, student trustees or the director of education; ss. 58.7-58.9 elections; ss. 230.3 and 230.15(2) Minister's vesting order and appointment of a person to exercise the board's powers For: Trustee
- ontario.ca · checked O. Reg. 412/00, Elections to and Representation on District School Boards (consolidated from 2026-04-13, last amended by O. Reg. 100/26): s. 2.1 number of members for a regular election is the lesser of 12 and the 2022 number; ss. 4-9 distribution of members to geographic areas by 31 March of the election year For: Trustee
- hcdsb.org · checked HCDSB Board of Trustees page lists 9 trustees by area (checked 2026-10-11) For: Trustee
- ontario.ca · checked Education Act (Ontario) s. 208(4), (8) (e-Laws, currency date 2026-10-07). For: Chair
- ontario.ca · checked Education Act (Ontario) s. 208(7), (8) (e-Laws, currency date 2026-10-07). For: Vice-Chair
- ontario.ca · checked Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (consolidated from 2026-05-07): s. 4 regular elections on the fourth Monday of October every four years (26 October 2026); s. 6 four-year term beginning 15 November; district school boards elected the same way as councils (Education Act s. 58.7) For: Brenda Agnew as Trustee, Chris Saunders as Trustee, Helena Karabela as Trustee, Janet O'Hearn-Czarnota as Trustee, Kirsten Kelly as Trustee and 5 more
- hcdsb.org · checked Listed as trustee (Burlington Wards 4 & 5) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Brenda Agnew as Trustee
- hcdsb.org · checked Listed as trustee (Oakville Wards 4 & 7) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Chris Saunders as Trustee
- hcdsb.org · checked Listed as trustee (Oakville Wards 5 & 6) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Helena Karabela as Trustee
- hcdsb.org · checked Listed as trustee (Halton Hills) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Janet O'Hearn-Czarnota as Trustee
- hcdsb.org · checked Listed as trustee (Burlington Wards 1 & 2) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Kirsten Kelly as Trustee
- hcdsb.org · checked Listed as trustee (Milton Wards 1 & 4) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Marvin Duarte as Trustee
- hcdsb.org · checked Listed as trustee (Milton Wards 2 & 3) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Patrick Murphy as Trustee
- hcdsb.org · checked Listed as trustee (Oakville Wards 1, 2 & 3) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Robert Kennedy as Trustee
- hcdsb.org · checked Listed as trustee (Burlington Wards 3 & 6) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Trish Powell as Trustee
- hcdsb.org · checked post named in the note of term 32080; source as recorded for that term: Listed as trustee (Milton Wards 1 & 4) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Marvin Duarte as Chair
- hcdsb.org · checked post named in the note of term 32040; source as recorded for that term: Listed as trustee (Halton Hills) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Janet O'Hearn-Czarnota as Vice-Chair
- ovs.voterview.ca · checked contest.seats_up = 1 from the clerk's certified candidate list ("1 to elect"), migration 032 backfill For: General election, October 26, 2026
- ontario.ca · checked Municipal Elections Act, 1996: s. 4 (voting day 26 October 2026), s. 31 (nomination day, third Friday in August), s. 37(1) (acclamation at 4 p.m. on the Monday after nomination day), s. 6 (term from 15 November) For: General election, October 26, 2026
- ovs.voterview.ca · checked Certified candidates for the 2026 regular election published by the municipal clerk through VoterView (Dominion Voting), ballot heading 'Halton Catholic District School Board - Wards 1,2 & 3', retrieved 2026-10-11; names converted from capitals to mixed case; number to elect: one trustee per area: the board has 9 trustees (board website) for its 9 areas (3 Oakville, 3 Burlington, 2 Milton, 1 Halton Hills) For: General election, October 26, 2026
- ovs.voterview.ca · checked Certified candidates for the 2026 regular election published by the municipal clerk through VoterView (Dominion Voting), ballot heading 'Halton Catholic District School Board - Wards 5 and 6', retrieved 2026-10-11; names converted from capitals to mixed case; number to elect: one trustee per area: the board has 9 trustees (board website) for its 9 areas (3 Oakville, 3 Burlington, 2 Milton, 1 Halton Hills) For: General election, October 26, 2026
- ovs.voterview.ca · checked contest.seats_up = 1 from the clerk's certified candidate list ("1 to elect"), migration 032 backfill For: General election, October 26, 2026
- ovs.voterview.ca · checked Certified candidates for the 2026 regular election published by the municipal clerk through VoterView (Dominion Voting), ballot heading 'HCDSB Trustee - Ward 1 & 2', retrieved 2026-10-11; names converted from capitals to mixed case; number to elect: one trustee per area: the board has 9 trustees (board website) for its 9 areas (3 Oakville, 3 Burlington, 2 Milton, 1 Halton Hills) For: General election, October 26, 2026
- ovs.voterview.ca · checked Certified candidates for the 2026 regular election published by the municipal clerk through VoterView (Dominion Voting), ballot heading 'HCDSB Trustee - Ward 3 & 6', retrieved 2026-10-11; names converted from capitals to mixed case; number to elect: one trustee per area: the board has 9 trustees (board website) for its 9 areas (3 Oakville, 3 Burlington, 2 Milton, 1 Halton Hills) For: General election, October 26, 2026
- ovs.voterview.ca · checked Certified candidates for the 2026 regular election published by the municipal clerk through VoterView (Dominion Voting), ballot heading 'HCDSB Trustee - Wards 4 & 5', retrieved 2026-10-11; names converted from capitals to mixed case; number to elect: one trustee per area: the board has 9 trustees (board website) for its 9 areas (3 Oakville, 3 Burlington, 2 Milton, 1 Halton Hills) For: General election, October 26, 2026