Transcript Document 7523530

School Advisory Councils
Roles and Responsibilities
School Advisory
Councils
The Guiding Principles
Guiding Principles
The movement to establish school advisory councils is guided
by the following principles:
•
•
•
Education is a shared responsibility.
Student needs must be the first consideration for
all decision making.
People at the local school level are in the best
position to make decisions that truly meet the
needs of students.
Guiding Principles
The movement to establish school advisory councils is guided
by the following principles:
•
•
Change must take into account the unique
characteristics of each community.
Involving the community in improving the school
will enhance the educational experience for
students.
What is a School Advisory Council (SAC)
A school advisory council is a legally recognized body
composed of the principal and representatives of
teachers and support staff, students, parents, and
community members who work together in an
advisory capacity to increase the quality of education
being provided by the school.
The fundamental purpose of the school advisory
council is to ensure that all students receive the best
possible learning opportunities by engaging all
partners in an ongoing process of problem solving
and shared decision making.
Education Act
1996
School Advisory Councils as Defined in
The Education Act (1996)
20 (1) A school board shall establish a school advisory council
for a public school where
(a) eight or more parents of students attending the public school;
(b) a home and school association, parent-teacher association or
similar organization for the public school; or
(c) the principal of the public school,
requests, by a petition in writing to the school board, that a school
advisory council be established for the school.
School Advisory Councils as Defined in
The Education Act (1996)
20 (2) A school board may establish one school advisory council
for more than one school where requested by the
persons referred to in clause (1)(a) for each school.
20 (3) Upon the establishment of a school advisory council for a
school pursuant to subsection (1),
(a) subject to Section 21, the initial composition of the school advisory
council shall be determined in the manner prescribed by the
Minister; and
(b) the school advisory council, the school board and the Minister shall
enter into an agreement setting out, subject to this Act, the
composition and responsibilities of the school advisory council
pursuant to Section 22 and additional advisory duties, if any.
School Advisory Councils as Defined in
The Education Act (1996)
20 (4) The school advisory council, the school board and the
Minister may, from time to time, amend the agreement
made pursuant to subsection (3).
20 (5) A school advisory council established pursuant to the
former Act is continued in accordance with this Act and,
for the purpose of this Act, is deemed to be established
pursuant to this Act.
School Advisory Councils as Defined in
The Education Act (1996)
21 (1) A school advisory council for a public school shall have at
least five and not more than eighteen members consisting of
(a) at least one parent of a child attending the school, elected by the
parents of the children attending the school;
(b) where the school is a school with students in grade seven or a
higher grade, at least two students attending the school, elected by
the students attending the school;
(c) where the school is an elementary school, at least two students
attending the school if the agreement made pursuant to subsection
20(3) so provides, elected by the students;
School Advisory Councils as Defined in
The Education Act (1996)
21 (1) A school advisory council for a public school shall have at
least five and not more than eighteen members consisting of
(d) at least one person from the teachers employed at the school,
elected by the teachers, and at least one person from the support
staff employed at the school, elected by the support staff;
(e) the principal of the school; and
(f) at least one representative of the community in which the school is
situated, appointed by the school advisory council or, where the
school advisory council so determines, elected by the community.
School Advisory Councils as Defined in
The Education Act (1996)
22 A school advisory council for a public school shall
(a) after consultation with the staff of the school, develop and
recommend to the school board a school improvement plan;
(b) prepare an annual report in such form and containing such
information as the Minister determines;
(c) advise on the development of school policies that promote
academic excellence and a positive learning environment;
(d) advise the principal and staff of the school on curriculum and
programs, school practices, student discipline, fund-raising and
parent-school communication and similar matters;
School Advisory Councils as Defined in
The Education Act (1996)
22 A school advisory council for a public school shall
(e) advise the school board on curriculum and programs, studentsupport services, policy development, funding, communication
strategies and similar matters;
(f) participate in the selection of the principal of the school by
representation on the school board’s selection committee;
(g) subject to the approval of the school board, make by-laws
respecting the election of its members, the conduct of its meetings
and the operation of the school advisory council; and
(h) perform such other duties and have such powers of the school
board as the agreement made pursuant to subsection 20(3)
provides and the Governor in Council transfers to the school
advisory council pursuant to section 23.
Halifax Regional
School Board
Policy A.004
Halifax Regional School Board
Policy A.004
1.0 GENERAL PRINCIPLES
1.1 The Board believes that education is a shared responsibility
among parents/guardians (parents), staff, students, community
members and government.
1.2 The participation of parents in the life of the school contributes
to student learning and success.
1.3 Parents and community members have a right to information
regarding the general operation of the school system.
1.4 Parents and community members deserve the opportunity to
contribute to the review and development of the Board’s
programs, services and policies.
1.5 Parents and leaders within our diverse community have an
important role to play with regard to policy development and
implementation at both the school level and the Board.
Halifax Regional School Board
Policy A.004
2.0 GENERAL OBJECTIVES
School Advisory Councils should function with the following general
objectives in mind:
2.1 To place the overall interests of students first.
2.2 To advise the principal.
2.3 To help all parents and partners share responsibility for student
success.
2.4 To enhance parent and community involvement.
2.5 To promote effective relationships among home, school and
community.
2.6 To provide a forum for discussion on school success.
2.7 To help parents and community members share their views.
2.8 To promote positive attitudes towards public education.
Halifax Regional School Board
Policy A.004
3.0 CODE OF ETHICS
School Advisory Council members will:
3.1 Be non-judgmental, respect confidentiality, hold constructive
discussions and reach decisions through consensus.
3.2 Respect the rights of students and Board employees.
3.3 Avoid discussions about individual persons.
3.4 Identify conflicts of interest.
3.5 Focus on school-wide issues in the best interest of the school
and students.
School advisory councils will not:
•
•
•
•
Take on the role of the teacher, principal, support
staff, or school board each of whom has
professional and legal responsibilities
Be involved in the day-to-day professional
management of the school
Allow special interest or single interest groups to
dominate the agenda of the council
Hire, suspend, dismiss or discipline any employee
of a school board
Halifax Regional School Board
Policy A.004
5.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCILS
5.1 The School Advisory Council (SAC) shall play an advisory role
to the principal and staff of the school.
5.2 Specific roles and responsibilities of an SAC shall conform to all
of Sections 22 and 23 of the Education Act..
5.3 The SAC will advise the principal and staff of school level issues
related to curriculum and programs, school policies, ways and
strategies to improve and support the extra-curricular program,
fund-raising, and parent-school communication.
5.4 Each SAC after consultation with the staff and community of the
school shall be responsible for developing a School
Improvement Plan (SIP) at least once every four years with an
annual update (review) each and every year.
Halifax Regional School Board
Policy A.004
5.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCILS
5.5 SAC’s, through the Assembly of School Advisory Councils, will
be requested to participate in the selection of the principal of
the school by representation of the Selection Committee of the
Board as per the Education Act and Board policy.
5.6 It is understood and agreed that senior staff of the School
Administration Department or staff assigned by the
Superintendent will consult with members of the School
Advisory Council and the Board Member for the area prior to
the assignment, through transfer or promotion, of the principal
or vice-principal to the school, with reference to the School
Profile Report and the requirements of the community as
determined by the SAC.
Halifax Regional School Board
Policy A.004
5.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCILS
5.7 The SAC or a committee of the SAC comprised of parents
and/or community members shall form the “School Discipline
Committee” in compliance with HRSB Policy-Code: B.013 as
well as section 125(1)(b) of the Education Act.
5.8 The SAC, in consultation with the principal, will complete an
Annual School Profile Report for the purpose of satisfying the
requirements of the Board and to meet the requirements of
Section 22(b) of the Education Act.
5.9 The Annual School Profile Report shall be considered the
Annual Report for the purposes of complying with the
requirements of the Education Act & Regulations respecting the
SAC’s.
Halifax Regional School Board
Policy A.004
5.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCILS
5.10 The SAC shall not be mandated nor expected to perform
managerial or administrative duties that belong to the principal,
teachers and support staff or to other school administrators
and supervisory staff .
5.11 The SAC shall not have the power to hire, suspend, dismiss or
discipline an employee of the Board.
5.12 From time to time, individual SAC’s will be encouraged to
provide advice to the Board on matters of policy and similar
matters.
Halifax Regional School Board
Policy A.004
6.0 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCILS
6.1 A General Assembly of SAC’s (the Assembly) will be established
for the purpose of providing communication between each
independent SAC and subsequently to provide advice to the
Board on matters of: policy development, curriculum and
programs, student-support services, funding, communication
strategies and similar matters.
6.2 Training and in-service will be available to members of the
General Assembly of School Advisory Councils and provided by
the Board.
Halifax Regional School Board
Policy A.004
7.0 PARENT CONCERN PROTOCOL
7.1 Consistent with the responsibility of the SAC to act in an
advisory capacity to the principal, parents expressing concerns
to the SAC will be referred to the Parent Concern Protocol for
review and action.
Halifax Regional School Board
Policy A.004
8.0 REVIEW OF SCHOOLS FOR POSSIBLE PERMANENT CLOSURE
8.1 If and when the Board identifies a school for review for possible
permanent closure, the SAC will be requested by the
Superintendent to serve as the Review Committee, consistent
with the policy and procedures of the Board respecting the
review of schools for permanent closure (A.002).
8.2 If and when the Board identifies schools or a designated areas
of schools for review for possible permanent closure, the SAC
will be invited by the Superintendent to appoint a representative
of the SAC to the Review Committee.
Letter of
Agreement
Letter of Agreement
Definition:
The purpose of the Letter of Agreement
is to establish the terms and conditions
of the Agreement among the
Department of Education, the School
Board and the School Advisory Council.
Halifax Regional School Board
Policy A.004
4.3 Each SAC shall prepare a Letter of Agreement for submission to
the Board and Department of Education for approval.
4.4 The Letter of Agreement will conform in all respects to the
Board’s policies as well as the Department of Education’s
policies and guidelines on racial, cultural and gender equity and
will attempt to reflect in its SAC membership the diversity of the
community that it serves.
4.5 Subsequent to the Board’s approval of the Letter of Agreement,
the SAC shall ensure appropriate implementation of the
agreement.
4.6 The SAC, the Board, and the Minister may, from time to time,
amend the Letter of Agreement through mutual agreement.
Letter of Agreement
Framework:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Duration
Structure
School Advisory Council Commitments
School Board Commitments
Department of Education Commitments
Signatures of 3 parties
Questions / Answers
Role of the School Discipline Committee (link)