Peel board policy on school councils supports student success
Each school in the Peel District School Board has a school council.
Why do we need school councils?
School councils are legislated by the provincial government and support the Peel board's school success planning goals. Research has shown that there is a clear connection between parent involvement and student achievement.
Our objectives for school councils
- to place the overall interests of students first
- to advise the principal and where appropriate, the Board
- to help all parents and partners share responsibility for student success
- to enhance parent and community involvement
- to promote effective relationships among home, school and community
- to provide a forum for discussions on school success
- to help parents and community members share their views
- to promote positive attitudes towards public education
Code of ethics
School council members will:
- be non-judgmental, respect confidentiality, hold constructive discussions and reach decisions through consensus
- respect the rights of students and Board employees
- avoid discussions about individual persons
- identify conflicts of interest
- focus on school-wide issues and in the best interest of the school and students
How school councils are organized
The majority of members on a school council must be parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school. School councils will have a minimum of nine members or eleven if there is student representation. Student representation is mandatory in secondary schools and optional in elementary schools.
Members
- parents/guardians
- community representative
- principal
- teacher
- support staff member
- student
Membership process
- elected by parents/guardians
- appointed by council designated member
- elected by teachers
- elected by support staff
- elected by students
Role of the school council
School councils can advise the principal, superintendents or trustees on several areas including:
- school calendar
- code of behaviour
- school program goals and priorities
- curriculum delivery
- budget priorities
- ways to communicate
- principal selection criteria
- extracurricular activities
In addition, school councils will:
- establish and review the council's goals, priorities and procedures each year
- organize training for council members
- hold a minimum of four meetings each year
- communicate regularly with parents and community members
Role of the council chair
The school council chair is elected by the parent members of the council. The chair's role includes:
- setting a meeting schedule
- setting meeting agendas
- ensuring minutes are taken
- preparing an annual report
- making public statements on behalf of the council
School council recommendations
School council recommendations and decisions related to the school will be referred to the principal. If they are broader in scope, the principal may choose to refer them to an appropriate board official.
The trustee's role in school councils
Trustees can support school councils by:
- supporting their work
- helping to make community contacts
- acting as a resource
- providing advice on Board policies
- providing a link between the council and the Board
This is a summary of the Peel board policy #61 on school councils
