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In the lead-up to this school yearÌý—Ìýit began Tuesday for many students in É«É«À²Ìý— the Star spoke with student trustees who say they’re frustrated by the new restrictions. Still, they remain committed to advocating for their peers, whether through social media, demonstrations or working with other student leaders.Ìý

“I’m still going to try my best to represent these students because that’s what we need,” said Ruben Da Silveira, a student trustee at the É«É«À² Catholic District School Board entering the second year of his two-year term.

“The reason why (the role of) student trustees was created was to make sure that students had a voice within the education system, and it doesn’t make sense to strip away voices that are needed.”

At his board, Da Silveira says priorities for students include creating more cultural clubs in schools, improving nutrition programs and increasing mental health resources. This year, he also hoped to work with trustees and senior staff on a board-wide project to provide free backpacks to low-income students. Now, he’s not sure how to advance these projects, but adds “I’m trying my best to feel optimistic, because I don’t want to lose hope for myself and the students.”

He can still take part in Ìý— a forum where student leaders discuss issuesÌý— but without board or committee meetings, he can’t escalate concerns the way he normally would.

“The real question is: Where is that student voice going to go?” asks the Grade 12 student at Marshall McLuhan Catholic Secondary School.Ìý

Earlier this year, Education Minister Paul Calandra placed several boards under provincial supervisionÌý— Ottawa’s public board, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic board, the Thames Valley public board and both É«É«À² boardsÌý— citing financial mismanagement.

The move stripped trustees of their decision-making powers. Adult trustees, elected during municipal elections, represent their communities; and student trustees, chosen by peers, represent students’ interests. While student trustees can’t introduce motionsÌý— only adult trustees canÌý— they can make suggestions and cast non-binding votes. They are paid $2,500 a year.

More recently, Calandra also signalled that Ontario’s education system is poised for a major overhaul, saying he’s considering eliminating elected trustees altogether.

When a board is placed under ministry supervision, the supervisor assumes governance and decision-making powers normally held by trustees, including student trustees, on matters such as finances, policy and operations. (At Catholic boards, elected trustees still retain authority over denominational issues.)

“The minister has encouraged supervised boards to continue engaging with and listening to the concerns and feedback of students,” Emma Testani, press secretary for Calandra, told the Star. “Student trustees, like all students and members of the public, retain the ability to advocate for student interests and share their perspectives.”

At the É«É«À² District School Board, student trustees Victor Jiang and Ahnaaf Hassan say top concerns there include student opposition to the shift from merit-based admissions to an interest-based lottery for specialized programs, along with calls for more mental health supports, better funding and repairs to deteriorating infrastructure. Unable to raise those issues at a board table, they’re looking elsewhere to speak out on behalf of students.

“We’re definitely going to continue advocatingÌý— to try and fight for our role and to try and fight for the student voice at the table,” says Jiang, a Grade 12 student at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute. “Even if they try and restrict us, we aren’t just going to sit back down and let them.”

Jiang says he’ll continue his advocacy through the Federation of Canadian Secondary Students, a non-partisan, youth-led charity that promotes social justice projects.

Meanwhile, Hassan, aÌýGrade 12 student at R.H. King Academy, has turned to social media and recently attended a rally opposing Bill 33, the Supporting Children and Students Act, which would require boards to reinstate a controversial program that would place police back in schools.

Hassan says in the absence of student trustees this year, he’s encouraging all students to speak out for what they want.

“Right now there’s no one representing you on the board, it’s kind of like each student for themselves,” says Hassan. “Working together, representing yourselves and advocating for what you want is the best way to get it.”

Carter Peios, president of the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association, which is made up student trustees from boards across the province, says “at a school board, all the decisions that are made are primarily affecting students, and it’s unfair that students aren’t going to have a voice.”

“The goal of our system is student success,” said Peios, also a student trustee for the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board.

“When students can’t share what’s succeeding and what’s not, it’s not just unfair to students, but it’s also unfair to the board because they can’t be informed of what might need to be altered or changed, and of what’s going well.”