FRANKLAND SCHOOL COUNCIL 2016-2017
What does the school council do and why should you get involved?
Joining the school council is a great way to get involved in our school community.
The school council:
- provides a regular forum for collaboration between parents and staff in order to support student learning;
- advises the principal on a variety of issues and activities relating to student achievement, curriculum goals and priorities, school budget priorities, school safety, renovation plans, after-school activities, and criteria for the selection of new principals;
- represents the diverse views of the school community on issues as they arise;
- informs the school community about decisions taken; and
- fundraises for priorities identified by the parents and staff.
Our school council has 15 elected positions. Some are designated (Co-Chairs, Treasurer, Secretary, Fundraising Chair, Greening Committee Chair/Liaison, Liaison/Advocacy Chair) while others are undesignated, or “at-large”. Parent council members in undesignated positions are encouraged to take responsibility for a committee or event over the course of the year (such as Volunteer /Class Representatives Coordinator, FalconGear Coordinator, Fun Fair, Silent Auction, etc.).
Parents who do not hold voting positions are welcome to attend meetings and/or serve on school council committees.
If you have any questions or would like more information about the school council, please contact Lindsay Clarke-Andrews at lclarkeandrews@yahoo.ca or Henna Agha at hennaagha@bell.net .
CHAIR/CO-CHAIR
The chair/co-chair is expected to:
- Call and chair council meetings
- Prepare agendas in consultation with the principal and other members
- Ensure that the minutes of council meetings are recorded and maintained
- Communicate with the principal on matters relating to the business of the council
- Ensure regular two-way communication between the council and the rest of the school community
- Ensure democratic procedures for decision-making and for the overall conduct of the business of council
- Consult with senior staff members of the school board and trustees as required
- Represent or speak on behalf of the school council on committees or at forums beyond the school except where the responsibility is delegated to other council members
- Ensure that the operation of the council is consistent with the guiding principles for school councils
- Ensure maximum involvement of entire council
- Vote on issues as required
TREASURER
The Treasurer is expected to:
- Account for funds belonging to the school council
- Present financial reports
- Manage the school council bank account
- Organize petty cash
- Sign documents
- Vote on issues as required
SECRETARY
The Secretary is expected to:
- Record minutes of the school council meetings
- Ensure that school council minutes are shared with members of the community
- Coordinate, gather and attach supplemental information to the minutes as required
- Maintain records of all correspondence
- Communicate necessary council information to Principal for weekly Newsletter
- Vote on issues as required
GREENING COMMITTEE CHAIR / LIAISON
The Greening Committee Chair / Liaison is expected to:
- Attend Greening Committee meetings and report back information to school council meetings
- Sign off on any submitted grants on behalf of the council
- Help with Greening Committee
- Recruit volunteers to the Greening Committee
- Vote on issues as required
LIAISON / ADVOCACY CHAIR
The Liaison / Advocacy Chair is expected to:
- Organize the Frankland School Council Speaker Series
- Liaise with other schools in the community to build a larger community speaker series.
- Organize free family engagement events for the Frankland School Community such as the winter skating party, Welcome Event, Movie Nights, School Dance, etc.
- Vote on issues as required
FUNDRAISING CHAIR
The Fundraising Chair is expected to:
- Develop a fundraising strategy to meet funding needs over the course of the school year
- Coordinate scheduling of fundraising projects
- Coordinate Direct Donation Campaign
- Communicate with the parent community about the objectives, timing and results of fundraising initiatives
- Liaise with volunteer committees of fundraising events
- Liaise with school staff
- Vote on issues as required
AT-LARGE MEMBERS
Elected members of the school council are expected to:
- Participate in council meetings
- Act as a link between the school council and the school community by consulting and reporting back where appropriate
- Encourage others to participate in the activities of the council
- Follow the operating rules or guidelines as agreed upon by the council
- Vote on issues as required
- Volunteer as an active member on one or more committee(s). These may include Greening Committee, Equity Committee, School Lunch Programs, Community Engagement Events, Website/Communications, Staff Appreciation, FalconGear, Welcome Back Events, Fun Fair and Silent Auction.
- Assume a Leadership position in one of the following roles:
Silent Auction Lead
- Coordinates and oversees all aspects of the silent auction
Fun Fair Lead
- Coordinates and oversees all aspects of the fun fair
School Lunch Program Coordinator
- Coordinates and oversees all aspects of the winter lunch program
Volunteer / Class Representatives Coordinator
- Liaises between the council and the class representatives
- Coordinates classroom representatives for school wide events (e.g. Fun Fair, Silent Auction)
- Coordinates donations from the classroom community for the Silent Auction
Equity Liaison
- Liaises with staff, school council and parent community to support equity initiatives and policies regarding equity, inclusion and fairness
- Attends Equity Committee meetings
- Reports back to council as needed
Website Communication
- Updates and maintains FranklandParents blog
FalconGear Coordinator
- Coordinates sales and distribution of FalconGear (school spirit clothing and water bottles)
Pool Representative
- Attends pool meeting(s)
- Reports back to council as needed
Ward Council Representative
- Attends Ward council meetings and represents Frankland School Council
- Reports back to council as needed