SocietyPreview

School board

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board

Governs Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board area

Official website (hwdsb.on.ca) Report a problem with this page

Source: data.ontario.ca, checked
What it's for

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

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

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

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

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

Who sits on it

Sourced · checked

Sources for who sits on it

Report a problem

Contact

What it can do

  • Run schools

    Governs elementary and secondary English-language instruction in schools other than 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).

Sourced · checked

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
Report a problem

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: Hamilton-Wentworth 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 4 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
  • hwdsb.on.ca · checked HWDSB Trustees page lists 11 trustees by ward (checked 2026-10-11) For: Trustee
  • ontario.ca · checked Education Act (Ontario) s. 208(7), (8) (e-Laws, currency date 2026-10-07). For: Vice-Chair
  • ontario.ca · checked Education Act (Ontario) s. 208(4), (8) (e-Laws, currency date 2026-10-07). For: 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: Abby Zaitley as Trustee, Amanda Fehrman as Trustee, Becky Buck as Trustee, Dawn Danko as Trustee, Elizabeth Wong as Trustee and 6 more
  • hwdsb.on.ca · checked Listed as trustee (Ward 4) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Abby Zaitley as Trustee
  • hwdsb.on.ca · checked Listed as trustee (Wards 11 & 12) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Amanda Fehrman as Trustee
  • hwdsb.on.ca · checked Listed as trustee (Wards 8 & 14) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Becky Buck as Trustee
  • hwdsb.on.ca · checked Listed as trustee (Ward 7) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Dawn Danko as Trustee
  • hwdsb.on.ca · checked Listed as trustee (Ward 1) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Elizabeth Wong as Trustee
  • hwdsb.on.ca · checked Listed as trustee (Ward 15) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Graeme Noble as Trustee
  • hwdsb.on.ca · checked Listed as trustee (Wards 6 & 9) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Kathy Archer as Trustee
  • hwdsb.on.ca · checked Listed as trustee (Ward 3) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Maria Felix Miller as Trustee
  • hwdsb.on.ca · checked Listed as trustee (Ward 13) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Paul Tut as Trustee
  • hwdsb.on.ca · checked Listed as trustee (Ward 2) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Sabreina Dahab as Trustee
  • hwdsb.on.ca · checked Listed as trustee (Wards 5 & 10) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Todd White as Trustee
  • hwdsb.on.ca · checked post named in the note of term 32098; source as recorded for that term: Listed as trustee (Ward 13) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Paul Tut as Vice-Chair
  • hwdsb.on.ca · checked post named in the note of term 32071; source as recorded for that term: Listed as trustee (Ward 3) on the board's website, checked 2026-10-11 For: Maria Felix Miller as Chair
  • hamilton.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
  • hamilton.ca · checked City of Hamilton, 2026 Municipal Election, Certified Candidates page (date modified 11 September 2026; withdrawn candidates excluded), retrieved 2026-10-11; one trustee per area: the board's 11 trustees are elected in these 11 areas (HWDSB trustees page) For: General election, October 26, 2026

Send feedback

Your message will be shown publicly on the feedback page. Your contact details stay private.