Everything you need to know about School Councils

1. Councils have a history…and a clear purpose

Council expectations advise the principal and, where appropriate, the board place student interests first support school success planning goals encourage parent and community involvement promote positive attitudes towards public education much more than fundraising bodies advisory in nature provide a forum through which parents and community members can contribute to school life

2. No one ever seems to come to School Council meetings

Types of parents “I want to be more involved, but I just don’t have the time.” “How was your day at school?” “Tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it!” “I’m an involved parent, and you can be too!” The busy-bees The stay-at-homes 4 types of parents/parent involvement The helpers The advocates

Where are all the parents? when it comes time for an election, we often find ourselves asking… “Where are all the parents?” main form of involvement is with their children at home if you think about your own life, that makes sense most of our involvement with our own children is at home we need to validate and value that

The chair sets the agenda in consultation with other council members and the principal. ​ Items should represent the needs of the entire student body. Should be timed.

3. Some people are actually not welcome on the school council

Not allowed as members trustee MPP cannot be parent member if employed at the same school his/her child attends can be staff rep.

Council membership parents – majority (elected by parents) 1 student – sec. mandatory, elem. optional (elected by students) principal (VP may attend in principal's place) 1 teacher (elected by teachers) 1 non-teaching staff rep (elected by support staff) 1 or more community reps (appointed by council) 1 rep from Home and School Association (appointed, if applicable) how many of you have a school council that looks like this? determine # of parents that is sustainable – at least 5 – unless you have a by-law that allows you to have a different number doesn't work to have all interested parents on the council Train them to sit next year Give them a role on a sub-committee parent members must have students enrolled at the school membership should reflect the diversity of the school community term of office – normally two years; should be staggered so that approx. half of the members are elected each year members may be re-elected or reappointed for more than one term

Council membership must have minimum of 9 members (or 11 if there is a student rep) if vacancies, must continue to try to fill them throughout the year may create bylaw to allow more than minimum number of members if no bylaw, must have an election if more nominations than the minimum Elementary schools - at least 9 members 5 parents PLUS – prin, teacher, support staff, community member Secondary schools – at least 11 members 6 parents PLUS – prin, teacher, support staff, community member, student IMPT – don’t need an election if there aren’t enough interested parents – you need more than 5 interested parents (unless by-law says otherwise) to hold an election, otherwise acclaimed

Council membership parents must be majority principal or VP cannot vote chair or co-chairs must be parent(s) VOTE – I'm going to come back to this (consensus)

Who is a parent? has child currently enrolled in the school if school board employee, must disclose employer prior to election school board employees are not allowed to be chair or co-chair if lunchroom supervisor, cannot be a SC parent rep, but could be a support staff rep. if volunteer, can be a parent rep. if OT who regularly teaches at the school – staff rep, not parent rep

4. A council is not a private club

Open door policy all council meetings are open to the public all meetings of council sub-committees are open to the public every meeting must have question period agendas and minutes of all meetings must be available to all parents important to post agenda ahead of time – increases attendance section in guide re: agendas

5. There is no proven link between more meetings and effectiveness

Meeting must-haves must have at least four meetings a year first meeting must be within 35 school days of the school year must have quorum to have meeting – majority of parents and members must be present principal must notify parents of date, time, place of all school council and committee meetings councils may have sub-committees – each committee must have parent rep first meeting must be held within 5 working days of election deadline – first meeting by Oct. 25, 2010 post agendas well in advance make minutes available asap after meeting

6. There's no law requiring your advice to be taken principal and the board must consider council's recommendations and advise council of any actions taken in response to those recommendations principal may refer recommendations about broader educational issues to the board through superintendent and trustee

School council mandate act as an advisory body providing ideas and suggestions to assist the principal, trustee and superintendent in making decisions on educational issues school calendar code of behaviour/dress code program priorities and curriculum delivery budget priorities extracurricular activities fundraising school success planning board policies and guidelines What does advisory mean? principal required to listen to advice and required to report back on status, but not required to implement suggestions Here’s an example: I sometimes hear helpful advice from my mother-in-law, but that doesn't mean that I always take it. Regardless of how well-intentioned it is---sometimes we simply just can't act on the advice.

School council mandate facilitate two-way communication between the school and parents/community promote the best interests of the school So… if you're hearing from parents that students aren’t getting enough homework, it's not the councils role to determine how much homework students receive. the principal’s role is to listen to that feedback, go back to key staff to discuss their feedback, bring your staff’s suggestions back and suggestions options, which may include offering a session for parents on the topic of homework

7. The school council is not the place for private grudges, pet peeves or personal preferences mandate is to be the voice of all parents at your school – to bring the collective issues forward for discussion

Duties & responsibilities maintain school-wide perspective legally required to operate with Education Act and Peel board policies adhere to the code of ethics act in best interest of the school and all students foster good relationships must elect a chair and secretary – all other positions are optional, including secretary and treasurer important to work towards consensus – as much as possible, avoid going to a vote

8. School councils have enormous power over the school’s reputation

Norms of collaboration pause before responding paraphrase pose questions put ideas on the table provide data to support group members pay attention to self and others presume positive intentions

Questions?