KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Suspensions and Expulsions

1: Introduction

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OVERVIEW

This is the 1st of 4 videos in our short series on Suspensions & Expulsions, featuring Ward 2 Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) trustee, Sabreina Dahab.

This video breaks down the role of school board trustees—who they are, what they do, and how they can support students and families. This is important, because school board trustees play a crucial role in navigating suspensions and expulsions. It’s important to learn about their roles and responsibilities before moving into the next 3 videos in this series.

In this video, you’ll learn: 

  • What trustees are responsible for (like setting school board policies and budgets)

  • How to reach out to your trustee if you have a question or concern

  • How trustees can help you navigate the school system and connect you to supports

  • What to do if your trustee isn’t helpful or responsive

Whether you're a student, parent, or guardian, this video will help you better understand how to advocate for yourself and who to turn to when you need help.

You can find the transcription for this video here (including visual descriptions for the video).

Refer to our glossary if you’re having trouble understanding any of the terms in this series.

  • Did you know that when some of us vote in municipal elections every four years, we’re also voting for a school board trustee?

    Trustees are locally elected representatives responsible for shaping public education in your community. They are accountable to students, parents/caregivers and community members. In other words, they are elected to be accountable to you.

    There are also student trustees who are non-voting members of the trustee board elected by students, who you can reach out to if you would rather connect with a student leader. Student trustees represent all schools in your school board, whereas trustees each represent a “ward,” making them responsible for all the schools in that area.

    School board trustees are responsible for setting the overall direction of the school board through policy development, strategic planning, and financial oversight. In other words, they’re get to oversee how a school board functions and manages their money. They:

    • Set long-term goals for your school board (develop and monitor a “multi-year strategic plan”)

    • Set policy direction for the board/create school board policies

    • Serve on key committees and advisory groups with students, parents, and community members

    • Decide how the school board spends money (the annual budget)

    Trustees play a critical role in ensuring that community voices are reflected in the education system and that decisions are made transparently and equitably.

  • Schools and school boards can feel really complicated—there are a lot of people and roles, and it’s not always clear where to go when you need help. Your trustee can:

    • Help you identify the right point of contact (teacher, principal, superintendent, etc.)

    • Guide you through the board’s processes

    • Connect you with specialized support services, including Human Rights Offices

    • Refer you to community-based organizations who can advocate alongside you

    • Help you figure out who to talk to about a concern

    • Explain how school board processes work

    From classroom issues to board-wide policy concerns, your trustee can help you understand the school board better and connect you with the right resources.

  • If you don’t feel supported by your trustee, you’re not out of options. You can:

    • Contact the Chair or Vice Chair of the school board (which can be found on your school board’s website)

    • Reach out to another trustee—while trustees represent specific wards, they are a collective body elected to serve all students/families across the board

    • Connect with community organizations who can help you navigate advocacy processes. See More to see what community organizations can help you, or connect directly with us through the contact page or at education@djno.ca. 

  • Some of the terms used in this video and the next ones might sound cold or legalistic. That’s because they come straight from Ontario’s Education Act and school board policies. We’re sharing this language so you know how the system talks. Knowing the system’s language helps you better challenge it—but that doesn’t mean this language is okay. Only when we familiarize ourselves with this language can we begin to deconstruct it and dream of more liberatory alternatives.