Before the Ballot- School Trustee Edition with Melissa Baxter, Candidate for Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Trustee (Public) – Wards 11 and 12.

Enjoy this instalment of Before the Ballot- School Trustee Edition with Melissa Baxter, Candidate for Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Trustee (Public) – Wards 11 and 12.

Please tell our readers a little about yourself and what motivated you to seek election as a School Board Trustee.

Hi, I'm Melissa Baxter. I’ve been living in Hamilton for almost 10 years now with my partner, Alex. Together, we're raising our two wonderful boys, ages 5 and 10, who both attend school in Ward 12.

When I was younger, I saw my father serve two terms as a School Trustee in Durham Region, giving me a firsthand appreciation for the responsibility the role carries. Through his service, I came to understand that being an effective trustee is about far more than attending meetings and casting votes. It means being available, accessible, accountable, and willing to listen to the students, families, educators, and communities you represent.

As a local business owner, a lifelong advocate for children, and, most importantly, a proud mother of two children enrolled in Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board schools, I understand both the opportunities and the challenges facing public education. My decision to seek election comes from my own family's experiences within the HWDSB and the many conversations I've had with parents, guardians, students, educators, and community members over the years. Like many families, we have experienced both the successes and the challenges of our education system. Those experiences motivated me to become more involved by attending school and community meetings, researching issues at both the board and provincial levels, and advocating for safer schools, stronger communication, and greater transparency.

Throughout that time, one message has remained consistent: families want to be heard. They want trustees who are visible in the community, approachable, responsive, and willing to ask thoughtful questions when concerns arise. I believe a School Trustee should be an active voice for students and families, not only during elections or board meetings, but throughout their entire term. Parents and guardians deserve to feel represented.

I want to help strengthen the relationship between families and the school board by improving communication, rebuilding trust, and ensuring that every decision is guided by one simple question: Is this in the best interest of students? I believe in working collaboratively with parents, guardians, educators, fellow trustees, board staff, and our provincial partners to support safe, inclusive, and high quality learning environments for every student. One commitment I can make is simple: every voicemail, email, and message I receive will receive a response. No parent, guardian, student, educator, or community member should ever feel unheard by their School Trustee.

In your view, what are the three most important issues currently facing students, parents, educators, and the school board, and how would you help address them?

The three most important issues facing students, parents, guardians, educators, and the school board are threefold: Safety and Well-being, Communication and Trust, and Ensuring Students Receive the Support and Opportunities They Need to Succeed.

Safety and Well-being: Safety always comes first. Every student, educator, and staff member deserves to feel safe, supported, and included at school. Parents and guardians should also have confidence that their children are safe travelling to school, while they are at school, and on their way home. Safe schools are inclusive schools where every student feels respected, valued, and has the opportunity to succeed.

Over time, our education system has introduced many policies with good intentions. However, when there are too many policies, procedures, and administrative requirements, we can lose sight of the reason those policies were created in the first place, to protect students, support educators, and foster positive learning environments. I believe the board should regularly review and streamline its policies, focus on practical solutions, and take a more proactive approach to student safety and well-being rather than simply reacting after issues arise.

Communication and Trust: Parents and guardians want timely, transparent information and a trustee who is accessible, responsive, willing to listen, and committed to keeping the public informed about what is happening at the board table and how they are representing the people who elected them. 

Trustees should be visible in their schools and communities, communicate decisions in plain language, and ensure families understand not only what decisions are being made, but why. Strong communication builds trust, encourages collaboration, and helps families feel represented throughout a trustee's term, not just during an election.

Ensuring Students Receive the Support and Opportunities They Need to Succeed: Every student deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. That means advocating for
sustainable funding, supporting educators, ensuring students with special education needs have timely access to appropriate supports and services, and recognizing the essential role educational Assistants and other frontline staff play in student success. It also means protecting specialized programs and learning opportunities, promoting equitable access to resources, and ensuring schools have the tools they need to meet the diverse needs of all learners.

Trustees must work collaboratively with board staff, fellow trustees, the Province, and community partners to advocate for students and ensure every decision is guided by one simple question: Is this in the best interest of students?

A trustee's role is one of governance rather than day-to-day management. How do you see the relationship between trustees, board administration, and school principals?

A School Trustee's job is not to run schools. Our role is to help set the direction of the school board by establishing policies, approving budgets, providing oversight, and ensuring decisions are made in the best interests of students. Trustees are accountable to the public because we are their voice at the board table. We are elected to represent our communities, advocate for students, and make informed decisions that reflect the needs and priorities of the people we serve. With that comes a responsibility to listen, to ask thoughtful questions, and to ensure every decision is guided by what is best for all students. 

Board administration, led by the Director of Education, is responsible for carrying out the  policies approved by trustees and managing the day-to-day operation of the school system.  School principals are responsible for leading their schools, supporting students and staff, and ensuring board policies are implemented at the school level.

When each role is understood and respected, they complement one another. Trustees bring the voices of students, parents, guardians, educators, and the community to the board table. Board administration provides the professional expertise and recommendations that help inform decisions, and principals provide valuable insight into the day-to-day realities of our schools. Each role supports the others while remaining accountable for its own responsibilities.

Although trustees should not become involved in the day-to-day management of schools, they should never become disconnected from them. Trustees should be visible in their schools and communities, build respectful relationships with board administration and school leaders, ask thoughtful questions, and remain approachable and accessible to the people they represent.

Ultimately, every part of the school board has a different responsibility, but they all share the same purpose. Each role should complement and support the others in achieving our mutual goal of doing what is in the best interests of every student

What changes or improvements, if any, would you like to see in the delivery of education within our local school system over the next four years?

Over the next four years, I would like to see continued improvements in student achievement, school safety, communication, and equitable access to opportunities for every learner.

I would like to see a greater focus on proactive decision making rather than reactive responses. Whether it is student safety, school policies, or emerging challenges, the board should continually review what is working, identify opportunities for improvement, and adapt before issues become larger problems.

I also believe we need to strengthen communication and public engagement. Families should feel informed, involved, and confident that their questions and concerns are being heard. Trustees have an important role in helping bridge the gap between the board and the communities they represent by making information accessible, communicating decisions in plain language, and encouraging meaningful public participation.

As our communities continue to grow and change, we must also ensure our schools have the resources they need to meet the diverse needs of students. That includes advocating for sustainable funding, supporting educators and Educational Assistants, strengthening supports for students with special education needs, protecting specialized programs, and ensuring all students have equitable access to opportunities that help them succeed.

Finally, I would like to see stronger collaboration between the school board, families,  municipalities, and community organizations. Many of the challenges affecting students, such as safe routes to school, mental health, recreation, and community supports, cannot be solved by the school board alone. By working together, we can create learning environments where every student feels safe, included, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Why should voters place their trust in you? What qualities, experience, or perspective would you bring to the role of School Board Trustee that distinguish you from the other candidates?

My experience as both a parent navigating the education system and a business owner has taught me how important responsiveness, accountability, and clear communication are. When people ask for help, they deserve an answer, even if that answer is simply explaining the next step. They want someone who is honest, accountable, responsive, and willing to follow through. That is how I have built my business, and it is the same approach I would bring to the role of School Trustee. I want to be the trustee families think of first when they have a question—not because I always have the answer, but because they know I'll help them find it.

Throughout my career, I have managed budgets, accounting, and multimillion dollar client accounts in high pressure environments. I left the corporate world to build my own business because I wanted to serve people the way I believe they should be treated, with respect, transparency, and genuine care.

Over the years, I have also seen how frustrating it can be for parents and guardians when their questions go unanswered or they struggle to find someone who will listen. That does not build trust. A trustee should be available, approachable, and responsive. I will answer questions to the best of my ability, keep families informed, and, when something falls outside my role, help connect them with the right person or department. People deserve to know they have been heard.

Trust is not automatic. It is earned through honesty, consistency, and following through on your commitments. Those values have guided me throughout my career and will guide me as your School Trustee.

What distinguishes me is my commitment to being the kind of trustee I believe every community deserves: one who listens, communicates openly, shows up, follows through, and works hard every day to earn and keep the public's trust.

What would you like parents, students and the broader public to know about the role of a Trustee?

I think a lot of people aren't sure what a School Trustee does, and that's okay. Before I started learning about the role, I didn't fully understand it either.

A School Trustee doesn't run schools or tell principals and teachers how to do their jobs. They also can't interfere with the day-to-day operation of a school. A trustee's role is different. We are elected by people like you to represent you and our community at the board table. We use your input to help set the direction of the school board, approve budgets and policies, ask questions, and make sure the decisions made at that table are in the best interests of students. That is a School Trustee's priority.

To me, one of the most important parts of being a trustee is listening. Parents, guardians, students, educators, and community members need someone they can reach out to, someone who will listen, help them understand the process, and make sure their concerns are heard. Even when a trustee can't solve a problem directly, they should never leave someone wondering where to turn next.

At the end of the day, a School Trustee is the connection between the community and the school board. We bring your voices to the board table, work respectfully with fellow trustees, board administration, and school leaders, and always keep students at the centre of every decision. A community's voice is strongest when its School Trustee listens.

How can voters contact you and/or learn more about you?

I welcome anyone with questions, concerns, or ideas to reach out. I regularly share campaign updates, community news, upcoming meetings, local events, and information that matters to Wards 11 and 12. My website and social media will always be a direct line to me, and I personally read and respond to comments and messages.

Website: MelissaBaxter.com
Facebook & Instagram: @MelissaForWards11and12
Email: MelissaForWards11and12@gmail.com
You can also add me as a friend on Facebook by searching Melissa Baxter. Or, if you see me on one of my daily walks around Ancaster with my French Bulldog, Bugsy, don't hesitate to stop and say hello. I always enjoy meeting neighbours and hearing what's important to them. Thank you for reading. Whether it's before, during, or after the election, my door will always be open to listen, answer questions, and help connect people with the information they need. I look forward to meeting many of you in the community.
— Melissa Baxter

Thank-you Melissa for engaging with Hamiltonians on The Hamiltonian!