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Updated September 2026
Quick Start for Durham parents
Five levers, the phones that matter, and what to do before the next school week ends.
This month: School Council elections must be held within the first 30 days of the school year.
Trustee voting day is Monday, October 26, 2026 .
Nominations closed August 21, 2026.
Your 5 strongest legal & procedural levers
- PPM 162 written exemption — Human Development & Sexual Health expectations only (Grades 1–8). Annual. Board must give ≥20 school days’ notice. Full text. Grades 9–12: there is no PPM 162 exemption — use the secondary letter.
- School Council motion requesting advance notice of curriculum units, resource lists, and identity-related programming. Sample motion.
- Freedom of Information request for specific classroom materials, lesson plans, or library criteria. $5 application fee. FOI template.
- Written escalation — principal → superintendent → Director → trustees. Keep everything in writing.
- Ontario Ombudsman — 1-800-263-1830 — if process is unfair or ignored. File a complaint.
Key phone numbers
- DDSB main: 905-666-5500 · toll-free 1-800-265-3968
- DCDSB main: 905-576-6150 · toll-free 1-877-482-0722
- DDSB Director’s EA: 905-666-6312
- DDSB Trustee Services: 905-666-6363
- DCDSB FOI / Privacy: 905-576-6150 ext. 22223
- Ontario Ombudsman: 1-800-263-1830
Find the trustee for your city on the Contacts page.
What to do this week
- Find your principal and School Council chair (school directory on the Contacts page).
- Email the principal asking for this year’s Human Development & Sexual Health dates and materials. Template.
- Check whether a PPM 162 notice has already gone out this year.
- Ask when School Council elections are, and get a nomination form if you want to stand.
- Save every email and notice in a dated folder. Use the tracking log. If the school says no, send the written-reasons letter.