Fact Bulletin #3: Governance vs. Operations: Clarifying the Trustee Role
Did you know... The Board of Trustees' role is one of governance, focusing on setting direction, while the Superintendent's role is one of operations, focusing on implementation?
This clear separation of duties is a cornerstone of effective school jurisdiction management in Alberta. It ensures that your elected representatives remain focused on the "big picture" for all students and are not involved in the day-to-day running of schools.
|
Function |
Board of Trustees (Governance) |
Superintendent/Administration (Operations) |
|
Primary Focus |
The WHAT and WHY: Setting the mission, vision, and strategic priorities for the entire Division. |
The HOW: Managing the daily affairs, staff, and facilities to achieve the Board's goals. |
|
Key Actions |
Policy Makers: Approving major policies (like the Code of Conduct and the Division Foundational Statements), and monitoring their effectiveness. |
Policy Implementers: Developing administrative procedures, hiring school staff, and day-to-day system functionings. |
|
Accountability |
Hiring and Evaluating: Hiring and holding the Superintendent accountable for all results. |
Reporting and Executing: Reporting to the Board and executing all policy and budget decisions. |
|
Authority |
Collective Authority: Decisions are made only by the Board as a whole through a public vote. |
Delegated Authority: Has the legal authority delegated by the Board to manage the school division's day-to-day functioning. |
The Board of Trustees’ governance role ensures they do not micromanage individual schools or staff. Instead, they remain focused on core responsibilities: establishing broad community goals, ensuring fiscal responsibility in the use of your tax dollars, and holding the system accountable for achieving high-quality educational outcomes for every student.
Vote on October 20!
The Peace River School Division has an election in Wards 2, 3, 4, and 5 on October 20. Exercise your right to vote either in the advanced poles or on election day. Complete polling station information is available on our elections page.