Role of the School Council
A school council is an advisory body that functions within the parameters of Ministry of Education and Board policy. School councils provide an opportunity and the means to advise the principal and the Board on any matter pertaining to improvement of pupil achievement and enhancing the accountability of the education system to parents/guardians. The ultimate responsibility for the administration and management of the day-to-day operation of the school rests with the principal.
A School Council Handbook has been prepared by the Waterloo Region District School Board and the Waterloo Region Assembly of Public School Councils working in partnership to support school councils in their valuable role in elementary and secondary schools across the Region. A reference copy of the handbook is available in all of our schools.
A school council is an important venue for the various stakeholders in education to work in partnership. Its role, in collaboration with the principal, staff and the community, is to help set the priorities of the school, and to enhance learning opportunities, through various activities, for the benefit of our children/students.
What a School Council is not
A school council is not a place to pursue your own agenda or advocate for your own child. Individual issues should be pursued through the classroom teacher and/or principal or through your superintendent. Guidelines for parents/guardians to communicate with the school system related to individual issues are included in the School Council Handbook.
Representation
According to Waterloo Region District School Board Policy, school councils should range in size from nine to fifteen members in elementary schools, and from eleven to fifteen members in secondary schools. Schools may change the size of their school council through their own bylaw, as long as it complies with Ontario Regulation 612/00. Under the same regulation, school councils shall include:
- Parents/guardians of students enrolled in the school, elected by parents/guardians at the school. Parents/guardians must form a majority on the school council. In the case of an adult day school, students will form the majority on the school council.
- The school principal (a non-voting member)
- One teacher from the school, elected by the teaching staff
- One support staff member from the school, elected by the support staff
- One student, if a secondary school, chosen by the students. A school council at the elementary level may decide to invite student representation in consultation with and appointed by the principal
- One person appointed by an association that is a member of the Ontario Federation of Home & School Associations, if the association is established in the school
- A community representative, appointed by the school council. The school council may make a bylaw to increase the number of community representatives to two or more, but must still make sure that parents/guardians form the majority.
School Council Membership
The membership of a school council changes from year to year. Each year, potential new council members will be recruited for election, elections will take place, and the newly elected members will be oriented to their tasks (3.1). O. Reg. 612/00
Linked below is a Google Form for any parents who wish to self-nominate or nominate another parent. Anyone who wishes to be elected or become a voting member must attend scheduled meetings. A member will lose voting status after missing two meetings (as per Chalmers School Council Bylaw 4.1).
Link to Chalmers’ School Council Nomination Form:
Chalmers Street School Council Membership and Nomination Form
Sincerely,
Sharon Morgan
Principal
Additional Resources:
Encouraging Parent Involvement in Schools
Welcome to your School Council
School Council Meeting Dates 2022-23:
- Wednesday, October 5
- Wednesday, November 9
- Wednesday, February 8
- Wednesday, April 12
- Wednesday, June 14
2022-2023 Elected Positions:
Chair– TBD
Secretary– TBD
Treasurer– TBD