Better Elections equals stronger communities

Congratulations to all new school board trustees. Your role is vital in maintaining a strong voice for all islanders in shaping education policy, providing accountability, and representing your community.

When Islanders last voted for school trustees in 2022, only two percent of eligible voters took part. Early reports from this fall’s vote suggest turnout was even lower, closer to one percent. Such limited participation weakens the foundation of local voice and accountability in public education.

CHANGES TO ELECTIONS ACT

The current three-year election cycle for school board trustees, set out in Prince Edward Island’s Education Act and related regulations, operates independently of both municipal and provincial elections, and this separation has contributed to low public awareness and engagement.

A return to appointed school boards would not benefit islanders. It is time to align school board elections with provincial votes. Such an alignment would require changes to the Education Act.

Home & School Resolution 2023-3 called for school board elections to align with municipal elections, and although that might seem logical, it’s not practical.

Many Island communities are unincorporated and hold no municipal elections, leaving large areas of the province without a natural local ballot to pair with. The only election cycle that consistently reaches all Islanders is the provincial election, which occurs every four years or sooner if the government loses confidence in the Legislature.

Synchronizing school board elections with provincial elections would ensure every Islander has the same opportunity to vote for their local education representatives, increase visibility of the trustee role, and make the process more efficient and democratic.

The P.E.I. Home and School Federation urges the provincial government to consider amending the Education Act and its regulations so that future school board elections take place alongside provincial elections, giving Islanders a stronger and more unified voice in shaping the education of our children.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

While work remains to be done on School Board Elections, progress was made with enhanced background checks for PSB staff in Minister’s Directive MD 2025-09.  This is  a big step forward towards enhancing the safety of our children at school. The directive mandates that all school authorities establish strengthened policies to ensure the safety of students, including rigorous screening and background-check requirements for both existing and new employees and volunteers.

Still more needs to be done in how schools are built and designed.  In every school, safety and child protection should be at the heart of the design. Clear sightlines, glass-paneled doors, open classrooms, and visible outdoor spaces ensure students are always supervised without sacrificing privacy. School layout should include transparent learning spaces that allow natural supervision so that a “two-adults in every room” or clear  visibility rules can be upheld in all instructional and support spaces.

Your local Home and School Associations are members of the provincial PEI Home and School Federation.  We give regional associations real influence, support, and credibility. Members gain voting rights at provincial meetings, access to leadership training, networking events, and grants for parent‐engagement projects. You can submit resolutions shaping provincial education policy, nominate volunteers for recognition, and benefit from templates, resources, and expert guidance.

Membership strengthens parent‐school partnerships, enhances visibility, and ensures every local group has a stronger voice in advocating for student well-being and quality education across Prince Edward Island.

For more information, go to https://peihsf.ca, email peihsf@gov.pe.ca or call 902-620-3186.

David Schult, president of the PEI Home and School Federation, lives in Charlottetown with his wife and two children, who attend UPEI and Colonel Gray Senior High School.  Together we build better schools.