Trustees elected to the public and Catholic school boards serving Simcoe County region expensed just over $120,000 total for the 2023/24 school year.
Last week, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board released a full list of the expenses their elected trustees racked up between Sept. 1, 2023 and Aug. 31, 2024. The Simcoe County District School Board released their list late in 2024.
During their term in office, trustees are entitled to be reimbursed for expenses incurred while carrying out their responsibilities, and can include costs such as a computer, software, and internet access that allows them to consult with and contact their district schools and constituents. Other acceptable reasonable expenses permitted under the Education Act include transportation, professional development, conferences and meals.
At the Simcoe County District School Board, trustees spent $56,410 total in expenses between Sept. 1, 2023 and Aug. 31, 2024. Base pay for trustees at this board is $14,200 annually.
Student trustees – of which there are three on this board – spent $13,871 in professional development, $1,712 in travel and $464 in supplies, totalling $16,047.
Below is a breakdown of each trustee's expenses for the 2023/24 year.
The trustees above are elected during municipal elections and represent the following areas of the district:
- Armstrong for Innisfil;
- Beitz for New Tecumseth;
- Connors for Bradford West Gwillimbury;
- Foley for Collingwood and Wasaga Beach;
- Grummett for Oro Medonte and Springwater;
- Harrigan appointed to represent First Nation communities;
- Lloyd for Orillia, Ramara, and Severn and was also chair of the board last year;
- Powell for Barrie Wards 4, 5, and 6;
- Rafeek for Adjala-Tosorontio, Clearview, CFB Borden and Essa;
- Strachan for Barrie Wards 1, 2 and 3;
- Talbot for Midland, Penetanguishene, Tay and Tiny; and
- Wilson for Barrie Wards 7-10.
At the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, trustees spent $67,673.48 total in expenses between Sept. 1, 2023 and Aug. 31, 2024. Base pay for trustees at this board is $11,103.76 annually, with the vice chair earning $14,199 and the chair earning $17,293.
Here is a breakdown of their expenses:
The trustees included above represent the following areas of the district:
- Hardie for Barrie Wards 6-10, and the board chair for 2023/24;
- Susan van Amelsvoort for Barrie Wards 1-5, and the vice-chair for 2023/24;
- Hutchison for Essa, Adjala-Tosorontio, New Tecumseth, and Canadian Forces Base Borden;
- Boutotte for Huntsville, Muskoka Lakes, Lake of Bays, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Georgian Bay, and Parry Sound;
- Cooper for Clearview, Collingwood, Springwater and Wasaga Beach;
- D'Amelio for Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny and Tay;
- Da Silva for Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil; and
- Colin for Orillia, Ramara, Severn, and Oro-Medonte.
Student trustees are elected on one-year terms. At the Catholic board, student trustee expenses last year were zero dollars for telecom, $1,407.16 for travel, $5,122.12 for professional development and $103.39 for meals, totalling $6,632.67.
For more information on trustees and their expenses, click here for more information on the public board, and here for more information on the Catholic board.