School Board Trustees
School board trustees play a critical role as the elected representatives responsible for overseeing their respective school board and ensuring that schools remain safe, inclusive, and accountable to the communities they serve. Trustees help shape board policies and set strategic priorities, giving them significant influence over how issues such as discrimination and student safety are addressed in practice.
At a time when antisemitism has reached unprecedented levels within Ontario’s public education system, trustees have a heightened responsibility to ensure that Jewish students, educators, and families are protected from harassment, discrimination, and exclusion.
Trustees also serve as an important bridge between parents, students, community organizations, and school leadership, helping ensure that concerns from Jewish families are heard and acted upon. Trustees help set the tone for school culture and can play a pivotal role in fostering environments grounded in respect, inclusion, and zero tolerance for antisemitism and all forms of hate. This responsibility extends not only to Jewish students, but also to Jewish teachers, administrators, and other staff members who must be able to work in environments free from intimidation and discrimination.
Despite the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism by some school boards, including the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), significant gaps remain between these commitments and their implementation through board policies, staff training, reporting mechanisms, and educational programming. Other boards, including the Peel District School Board, do not currently utilize a formal definition of antisemitism, creating additional challenges in identifying, tracking, and responding consistently to incidents.
The consequences of these shortcomings are significant. Jewish students, families, and educators continue to report experiences of harassment, exclusion, and antisemitic rhetoric within school environments, contributing to a climate that many perceive as increasingly hostile and unsafe. These experiences undermine student well-being, disrupt learning, and erode confidence in school boards’ ability to respond effectively.
At the same time, concerns have grown that some trustees have devoted disproportionate attention to divisive geopolitical issues that fall outside the core mandate of public education. Trustees must remain focused on their primary responsibility: ensuring safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environments for all students. Strong leadership, clear accountability, and meaningful action are essential to addressing antisemitism and rebuilding trust within the Jewish community.
Recommendations
We therefore recommend that all candidates, if elected, commit to:
- Advocating for stronger policies on hate and harassment;
- Implementing transparent reporting and accountability for antisemitic incidents using the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario-adopted IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism;
- Championing mandatory training on antisemitism for staff and administrators using IHRA; and
- Regular engagement with Jewish community organizations, parents, students, and educators to better understand emerging concerns and community needs.
Questions for Candidates
- How will you support Jewish students, parents, teachers and administrators amidst the explosion of antisemitism in public schools?
- How will you re-centre focus on education achievement and safe and inclusive environments for all?
- Will you take the position that divisive geopolitics has no place for debate at the trustee level and in classrooms?