The WSD Board of Trustees is established as a corporation under the terms of the Public Schools Act of Manitoba. The Board of Trustees is responsible for providing adequate school accommodation in the most enabling environment for the resident persons who have the right to attend school; employing teachers and personnel that WSD may require and prescribing their duties; and for determining the number, grade and description of schools to be established and maintained. The Board of Trustees is responsible for setting policy under which WSD operates and determining the level of the annual budget. The Board is comprised of nine trustees who the local residents elect. 

The decisions made by a school board at its meetings set the overall directions and policy for the school division. The school board employs administrators to see that this direction is implemented effectively and efficiently and for the day-to-day operation of the school division.

Trustees shall serve as the Board of Trustees of Winnipeg School Division and when acting as a Board, all of the powers, duties, and responsibilities as are set out in the Public Schools Act, its Regulations, and any other act of the Province of Manitoba applicable to the Boards of Trustees of school divisions.

The Board of Trustees sets policy through the decisions it makes at public meetings.

Individual trustees have the right to speak and vote on matters presented at Board meetings. An individual trustee may wish the Board to take action on a particular topic and can present a motion on the subject to the Board. The motion may be discussed after it is seconded by another trustee. Action will be taken only if approved by the majority of the trustees.

The decisions made by a school board at its meetings set the overall directions and policy for the school division. The school board employs administrators to see that this direction is implemented in an effective and efficient manner and for the day-to-day operation of WSD.

There are four standing committees of the Board. The Finance/Personnel Committee, the Building/Transportation Committee, the Policy/Program Committee and the Governance & Public Relations Committee that meet whenever necessary on the call of the Chair of the respective committees or upon direction from the Board. The Board may refer any business coming before it to the committees for recommendation and report.

Advisory Committees & Parent Council

The Board of Trustees has established the following Advisory Committees to enhance communication between the Board (Trustees) and Parent Councils within each district: Central; Inner City; North and South Advisory Committees.