A school board (or school district) is an elected body responsible for governing public education in a defined geographic area. School boards hire superintendents, set education policies, approve budgets, and oversee school operations. While separate from municipal government, school boards share the property tax base—a portion of property taxes goes to education. This creates a connection between school boards and municipalities even though they're independent organizations. Trustee elections often occur alongside municipal elections. School board boundaries may not match municipal boundaries. In some provinces, education funding has shifted from local property taxes to provincial funding, reducing school boards' fiscal independence.