District Education Council (DEC)

There is a District Education Council for each of the seven school districts; three francophone and four anglophone. Council members are elected and serve for a four-year term. In addition to elected members, there are also appointments made by the Minister for a student representative and for a councillor who is a member of a Mi’kmaq or Wolastoqey First Nation and who resides in the school district.

For the purposes of the election, each school district is divided into 7 to 13 sub-districts, and one councilor is elected for each sub-district. Once elected, council members are responsible for representing all schools and students within their district, regardless of the subdistrict in which they reside. 

Councils play a critical role in ensuring local management, care and control of public education under the provincial framework of the Education Act, and other relevant legislation, regulations, and policies. 

Operating under the Education Act, councils collaborate to guide the development and execution of educational priorities, meeting at least 10 times annually. 

One of their primary responsibilities is to establish a District Education Plan, consistent with the provincial education plan, that outlines the district’s vision, goals, and values. DECs are also tasked with a variety of critical functions that support effective oversight, accountability, and continuous improvement across the district. Council members work collaboratively to represent the interests of students, parents, and the community in shaping the educational priorities of their district, while ensuring that provincial policies and procedures are being followed. 

Some responsibilities include:

• hiring and evaluating the superintendent
• ensuring that provincial policies and procedures are followed by the school district superintendent
• developing and adopting council policies
• establishing and monitoring the annual district plan and district performance report
• establishing and monitoring the district expenditure plan
• monitoring student achievement
• building community partnerships
• setting priorities for infrastructure planning, including capital construction, and the establishment, upgrading, and closure of schools
• reviewing improvement plans and performance reports for each school.

To be eligible for election, you must:

• be eligible to vote in the municipal election
• be a resident of the subdistrict you are running in
• be nominated by 10 parents of students enrolled in schools within the district.

It is important to note that Department of Education and Early Childhood Development employees, as well as school personnel, are not eligible to run. 

For more information, visit District Education Council Candidates — Elections NB

Training is provided as well as remuneration and expenses.