School Councils
Background
The Division recognizes the important contributions that parents can and wish to make to the education of Division students and encourages and supports parents and schools in the establishment of school councils associated with Division schools.
Procedures
- Formation of School Councils
- Notice of Meeting
Notice of a meeting to consider formation of a school council shall be provided to all parents or guardians of students enrolled in a school and, to the extent possible, to the school’s community no less than two weeks in advance of the meeting and the Principal or designate shall assist the process personally and through the use of school equipment and material such as may be provided. - Chairmanship
The Principal or some other person the Principal may designate shall chair the meeting called to determine whether or not to form a school council and the membership shall elect from its number a person to chair such meetings as may follow in accordance with whatever rules they may determine except that Division staff may not serve in that capacity. - Membership
The parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school are members of the school council without restriction and members of the community and the staff of the school may choose to join the council of their own volition. - Determination
If the majority of parents present at the first meeting vote to do so a school council shall be formed. - Constitution – Bylaws – Proceedings
School councils shall govern their affairs independently of the Division and shall determine as a matter of right their own constitutions and by-laws and rules of procedure. Division officers may and are encouraged to support school councils through attendance at council meetings and through the provision of such information and advice as may assist councils to achieve their objectives. - Meetings
A school council shall hold such number of meetings as it may determine necessary to the conduct of its business, but no less than one meeting per year. - Names of School Councils
School councils shall determine their names as they wish. - Election of Officers
The officers of school councils shall be such as may be specified in the council’s constitution and shall be elected annually.
- Notice of Meeting
- Dissolution of School Councils
A school council shall be dissolved when a majority of its members approve a resolution to do so or when, at the end of a school year no meeting has been held in the preceding twelve months. - Objectives
While it is recognized that school councils may establish their goals and objectives independent of the Division the objectives of this Administrative Procedure shall be, generally, to- Enhance communication between the school and its community,
- Provide a means by which the home, the school, and the community can work together for the benefit of Division students,
- Provide a forum for discussion of Division schools’ philosophies, plans, and operations notwithstanding that the Principal continues to hold authority and responsibility for management of the school in accordance with the Education Act.
- Development of School Councils
In order to facilitate the development of school councils for each Division school- Principals will, each September or as otherwise required or directed conduct a survey of parents to determine the extent of interest in the creation of a school council and to encourage parents to become involved,
- The Alberta School Councils Association prepares and distributes literature describing and supporting the development of school councils on an “as required” basis and will provide such assistance as may be required by schools to ensure that parents are fully informed and freely choose to organize or to not organize school councils,
- Principals shall advise the Superintendent when school councils for their schools have been formed.
- Evaluation
- The Board shall meet semi-annually with the Chairs of school councils to discuss with them their perceptions respecting the effectiveness of the operations of those councils.
- The Principal shall compile a report on the subject of their school council and parent involvement in the schools each June. The report shall be filed with the Superintendent prior to September 30 each calendar year.
Adopted: |
June 16, 1993 |
Amended: |
January 26, 2010, September 21, 2016, December 30, 2021 |
Reference: |
Section 52, 53, 68, 222 Education Act Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act Personal Information Protection Act School Councils Regulation 113/2007 School Council Handbook |
Cross References: |