Candidate Information

Candidate Handbook

The Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) Public School Trustee Candidate Handbook is available to help public school trustee candidates prepare for the Oct. 20, 2025 election. It includes a brief overview of the Division, important information about what is required of a public school trustee and a checklist for preparing your nomination package.

Public School Trustee Candidate Handbook

Nomination Package Checklist

As a result of the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendments Act, a number of changes have been made to provincial legislation since the last trustee election in 2021. We encourage all new and incumbent individuals interested in running for public school trustee to review the full candidate handbook and relevant legislation in detail.

Highlights of the Legislation Updates

Nominations

A person may file a nomination to become an Elk Island Public Schools trustee candidate between Jan. 2, 2025 and 12 noon on nomination day—Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. Links for all forms required are available in the nomination package checklist.

Notice of Intent to be Nominated

All interested public school trustee candidates must file a Notice of Intent to be nominated prior to accepting any campaign contributions—including self-funded campaigns—or incurring any campaign expenses (Part 5.1, section 147.22, Local Authorities Election Act). For example, this would include any expenses incurred during the process of completing the nomination package.

Nomination Papers

Nominations will be accepted by the Returning Officer, or a designate, at the local jurisdiction office:

Elk Island Public Schools
Central Services Building
683 Wye Rd.
Sherwood Park AB

All Notice of Intent forms and Nomination Papers must be sworn or affirmed in the prescribed form and signed by a Commissioner for Oaths prior to filing with Elk Island Public Schools. Learn more about where to find a Commissioner for Oaths in Alberta.

Candidate Eligibility

A person may be nominated as a candidate for public school trustee in Elk Island Public Schools if on nomination day the person:

is eligible to vote in the election;
has been a resident of EIPS and the ward/electoral subdivision in which they intend to run for the six consecutive months immediately preceding nomination day (a resident as of March 22, 2025); and
and is not otherwise ineligible or disqualified.

(Section 21, Local Authorities Election Act)

Sections 22-24 of the Local Authorities Election Act stipulate under what circumstances a candidate is NOT eligible for nomination. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they are not in violation of any condition of eligibility.

Employees of a School Jurisdiction
An employee of a school division, charter school or private school is not eligible to be nominated as a candidate for election on a school board on nomination day unless that person takes a leave of absence. The employee may give notice of intention to take a leave of absence without pay to their employer in order to run for trustee in any school jurisdiction. An employee who gives such notice of intention to take a leave of absence without pay must do so on or after Jan. 1, 2025, but before the employee’s last working day prior to nomination day. A school division, charter school or private school must grant every application.

(Section 22, Local Authorities Election Act)
See also: EIPS Administrative Procedure 407: Employee Leaves of Absence)

References

The following resources may be helpful for individuals interested in running for public school trustee:

The Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA)
• ASBA Guide for School Board Trustees
The Canadian School Boards Association (CSBA)
Alberta Education
• Alberta Education's School Board Elections Guide
• Education Act
College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS)
The Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA)
• Elk Island Local 28
The Public School Boards' Association of Alberta (PSBAA)
Alberta Municipal Affairs
• Alberta Municipal Affairs Local Authorities Election Information
• Local Authorities Election Act