The position of Commissioner for Ward 6 (Poltimore, Buckingham and Namur schools) of the Western Québec School Board is open for nominations. If two or more candidates are nominated, an election is set to take place on October 22. The Council of Commissioners regularly meets once a month. Since the elected officials represent their community, they must take the time to become familiar with the issues that concern their voters and to inform parents, electors, the governing boards and the community as a whole of the decisions taken. School commissioners play a key role. Elected by the citizens, they determine the orientations of the school board, taking into consideration the interests of the students, parents and electors of their community. Since the school board is an autonomous local government, the commissioners, who together make up the council of commissioners, exercise responsibilities comparable to those of municipal councillors. Since 2014, the chairs of school boards are elected by universal suffrage, meaning that the electors choose the person who will chair their local school board.