School Election 101 – What to know about October’s school trustees election

Education is deeply tied to the social and economic health of a community.

During this year’s Election Period from October 8-20, in addition to electing the City of Lethbridge’s Mayor and eight Councillors, local voters will determine the following contests for a four-year term (October 2025-October 2029):  

• Seven Trustees for the Lethbridge School Division
• Five Trustees for the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division 

School board trustees are elected representatives who play a critical role in shaping the future of public education. They contribute to the collective wellbeing and help address major issues such as equity, inclusion and student achievement.

Understanding the Roles

In Alberta, school boards are considered statutory cor­porations empowered by the Provincial Government to govern local education. This structure reflects the principle that decisions made at the community-level are more effective and responsive to local needs. 

Trustees act as advocates for students, stewards of public funds and bridges between the community and the school division. Trustees work collaboratively as part of a school board to ensure students receive a high-quality education that reflects the values and needs of their community. The board is collectively responsible for governance and all trustees are bound by its decisions. Individual trust­ees hold no legal authority, as decision-making power rests solely with the board. 

Their authority is rooted in the Education Act, which dele­gates governance powers to school boards, and the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA), which regulates trustee elections. Trustees are elected every four years and are accountable to their communities, parents and Alberta Education for their decisions. 

Candidate Resources

The City of Lethbridge’s Election website, lethbridge.ca/election, has a number of resources for prospective school trustee candidates, including step-by-step instructions on the Nomination Process, Nomination Papers, local and provincial legislative information and background, as well as information and videos on the role and responsibilities of an elected official.

The Alberta School Boards Association Guide for School Board Trustees has details on school boards responsibilities including setting direction; developing policy; budget approval and oversight; superintendent oversight; advocacy and representation; and community engagement. 

The City’s website will be updated regularly as the Nomination Period progresses.

Our City Clerks team is working with the Communications and Engagement team to plan a series of informative articles in the lead-up to October to help prepare our residents/voters. We are also striving to provide important and relevant information for prospective candidates, so they are fully aware of what the roles involve.  

For further information, follow our Municipal Election 101 story series and subscribe to our email news notifications.

For Public Inquiries:  

Call or chat 311 | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.