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School
Council Constitution |
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SCHOOL COUNCIL CONSTITUTION
(amended
September 2005)
1.
NAME
1.1 The name of
the School Council shall be CROYDON PARK PUBLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL (hereinafter
called “The Council”)
2. DEFINITION
2.1 BUDGET
PLAN:
General outline of anticipated income and expenditure for
the financial year.
2.2 CASUAL STAFF:
Any
persons employed regularly by the school to fulfil specialised services on an
ongoing basis.
2.3 COMMUNITY MEMBER:
Any
member nominated from the Community by the elected representatives of the
Council for appointment to the Council.
2.4 CO-OPTED
MEMBER:
Any
person co-opted for a specific task and for a specific time (such persons do
not have voting rights on the council).
2.5 CONSTITUENCY:
The body of voters who are eligible to elect the
representative members of the council.
2.6 COUNCILLOR:
Any elected or appointed member of the
Council.
2.7: ELECTED
MEMBER:
Any
person elected by the relevant constituency to represent the school staff or
parents on the Council.
2.8 EXECUTIVE
MEMBER/OFFICER:
Principal of
2.9 PARENT:
The
parent, guardian or any person who has custody of a student enrolled at
2.10 PARENT
COMMUNITY:
All
parents of students enrolled at
2.11 PARENT
MEMBER:
Any
person elected to the School Council to represent the views of the parent
community.
2.12 PARENT
ORGANISATION:
2.13 QUORUM:
Minimum
number of councillors required to be present at a Council meeting before any business
can be transacted.
2.14 SCHOOL
COMMUNITY:
Parents, school staff and students of
2.15 SCHOOL
STAFF:
All
persons employed at
2.16 STUDENT:
Any
pupil enrolled at
2.17 SUPPLEMENTARY
SERVICES:
All
support provided by parents and other members of the community to enrich the
educational programs of
3.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
3.1 To enable
formal school community participation in the planning and governance of
3.2 To provide and collate information and opinions to enable
decisions to be made.
3.3 To enable the school community to share in the decision-making
process.
4.
ROLES AND FUNCTIONS
4.1 CONSULTATIVE:
To
ensure that a wide range of opinions are canvassed and included in the
discussion of issues
relating to the
policies and directions of
4.2
POLICY DEVELOPMENT:
Discussion
and ratification of policy matters as they arise and relate to the –
4.2.1
Educational goals of
the school
4.2.2
Priorities and needs
of the school
4.2.3
Student Welfare
4.2.4
Aspects of community
participation
4.2.5
Budget priorities
4.3
ADVISORY
4.3.1
Advising the school
community of matters requiring attention
4.3.2
Advising the school
community of developments in the management of the school
4.3.3
Advising the school
community of any issues referred to the council with the exception of matters
relating to the confidentiality of the employment, appointment and efficiency
of the school staff
4.3.4
Advising the
relevant NSW Department of Education and Training representatives of the needs
of the school in respect of building, grounds and other matters relating to
4.4
MANAGEMENT
4.4.1 To establish a budget plan for the income
received and controlled by the school.
4.4.2 To establish priorities for the purchase of
new resources to extend the facilities at the school.
4.4.3 To receive and provide regular reports on
expenditures
4.4.4 To establish policies and methods of
implementation for the use of school facilities.
4.4.5 To advise on the contracting of
supplementary services as may be required by the school from time to time. Such services to be other than those normally provided by teachers,
ancillary staff and school cleaners.
4.5
COMMUNICATION/LIAISON
4.5.1 To communicate and consult with the school
community
4.5.2 To support staff and the parent body in
presenting a positive school image.
4.5.3 To
establish and maintain contact with other groups in the community in order to
increase awareness of the school and
encourage a willingness to become involved in school activities.
4.5.4
To ensure that each
member of the school council reports to the group it represents.
4.5.5
An Annual Report of
the council’s activities will be published for the school community.
4.5.6
The school council
will operate within the context of the relevant legislation and the stated
policies and priorities of the Government and the NSW Department of Education
and Training.
4.5.7
The school council
is accountable to the Director, Sydney Region, through the relevant
Director of Schools.
4.5.8
The principal
remains accountable under the Public Finance and Audit Act for the management
of school finances.
5. COMPOSITION
5.1 Principal –
Executive Officer
5.2 Elected Members
– A total of five (5) elected members comprising of :
5.2.1 Two (2) staff representatives elected by the
school staff.
5.2.2 Three (3) parent representatives. One (1)
parent must be a member of the parent organisation and elected by the parent
organisation. The other two (2) parents will be elected by the parent
community. (
In the
absence of a parent organisation, all three (3) parent representatives will be
elected by the parent community.
5.3 Community Members: A minimum of one
(1), and not exceeding two (2), appointed members.
5.4 General
5.4.1 The total number of councillors will not
exceed eight (8).
5.4.2 An additional member may be appointed by the
Director, Sydney Region, on the advice of the Director of Schools, to remedy
any imbalance of representation.
5.4.3 The council may, from time to time, co-opt
members for a specific task and for a specific time. Such members will not have
voting rights.
5.4.4 A person who is a member of another school
council cannot be a member of Croydon Park Public School Council, except with
the approval of the Director of Schools.
5.4.5 The council will, at its first meeting each
year, nominate members of the local community for consideration as a community
member.
5.4.6 A currently employed member of a school
staff cannot be a community member on the council.
5.4.7 When a casual vacancy for an elected
councillor occurs, the position will be filled by election within the relevant
constituency.
6. TENURE OF COUNCIL
6.1 The term
of each elected member will be two years. Community members will be nominated
and appointed each year. (Initially one parent representative and two staff
members will be elected for a one year term thereby creating elections each
year for half the council. The parent representative for the one year term will
be determined at the election.)
6.2 Elected
members of the council may not hold office for more than three (3) consecutive
terms.
7. ELECTION OF COUNCILLORS
7.1 The
election of Parent and Staff representatives will take place annually in March.
7.2 Announcement
of council members will be made in the last week of March each year.
7.3 Method for
the election of parent and school staff representatives:
7.3.1 The Principal will compile a list of all
eligible voters in the parent and staff constituency before any election takes
place.
7.3.2 Each parent who is a member of the parent
community is entitled and eligible to vote for the parent members of the school
council. The Parent Organisation President will compile a list of all eligible
parent organisation representatives.
7.3.3. All members of the school staff (as defined)
are entitled and eligible to vote for the staff members of the school council.
7.3.4 Election procedures will be advertised
thirty (30) days before the election.
7.3.5 All nominations for election must be in writing
fourteen (14) days before the election. They must be proposed and seconded by
members of the constituency they are to represent and must be signed by the
nominee.
7.3.6 If more than the required number of
candidates are nominated then a ballot must be conducted. The result of any
such ballot will be determined in order of numbers of votes cast (first past
the post).
7.3.7 Any such ballot shall be secret.
8. OFFICE BEARERES
PRESIDENT: To be
elected from the representatives or the appointed community members. The
president cannot be a member of the school staff.
SECRETARY: The council will appoint a secretary from the
members. (School funds will not be expended on the employment of such a
secretary).
EXECUTIVE MEMBER: The Principal of
8.1
Office bearers will
be elected annually by council members at the council’s first meeting after the
March election.
9. RESPONSIBILITY OF OFFICE
BEARERS
9.1 The
president will chair all meetings and be an ex-officio member of any
committees.
9.2 The
president will prepare the Annual Report, to be presented to the council and
then published in the school newsletter in Term 1.
9.3 The
president and executive officer will draw up the proposed meeting agenda, and
publish it in the school newsletter in the week preceding
the week of the council meeting. This is to enable representatives to consult
with their constituents on matters to be discussed.
9.4 The
secretary will take, prepare and publish the minutes of each meeting in the
school newsletter prior to the next meeting of the council.
9.5 Council
records, including copies of the constitution and all agenda, minutes,
correspondence, files, financial reports and committee reports, will be
retained within the school at all times unless authorised by the president or
the executive member.
9.6 The
executive member will assume the responsibilities normally associated with the
position of Treasurer, although the council will have no funds of its own
(other than petty cash).
9.7 The
executive member will implement all policies and priorities of the council.
9.8 To ensure
that the school council and its individual councillors are not subject to any
legal liability, the council shall not enter in to any contracts or agreements,
purchase goods, services or equipment, operate a bank account, or purchase
insurance.
10. COUNCIL MEETING PROCEDURES
10.1 The council
shall meet no fewer than eight times per year.
10.2 Council meetings
will be open to all constituents but only representatives and community members
will be eligible to speak, move motions or vote. Requests to briefly address
the school council may be made to the principal or president.
10.3 Each member
is entitled to one vote.
10.4 Decisions
will be made by a simple majority vote.
10.5 Where the vote is tied the status quo will remain.
10.6 The president will vote as a council member and will not have a
casting vote.
10.7 All matters
to be discussed should be placed on notice to enable representatives to consult
with their constituents. An agenda will be drawn up by the president and
executive officer and published in the school newsletter in the week prior to
the council meeting.
11. QUORUM
11.1 A quorum shall be 50% of all members of the council plus one.
12. ATTENDANCE
12.1 All members
shall attend all meetings of the council unless an apology is submitted.
12.2 If any
member fails to attend four consecutive meetings without approval, their
position may be declared vacant and an election held to fill the vacancy.
13. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS
13.1 A special
general meeting may be called at the request of the majority of council members
or twenty percent (20%) of parent community members or principal or majority of
staff. All such meetings shall be open to the school community.
13.2 A special
general meeting must be called to
a)
Change the constitution
b)
Recommend the removal of a community member
c)
Recommend the dismissal of the council
d) Dissent
from a council decision
e)
Dissolution of the Council
13.3 Any council
member representing school staff or parents may be removed by their respective
constituency at their own meeting
13.4 All such
meetings must have a two thirds (2/3) majority to carry any decisions.
13.5 Seven (7)
days notice must be given for a special general meeting.
14. RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES
14.1 Where
disputes occur and cannot be resolved by council procedures then the School
Education Director shall be called to resolve the matter in dispute.
15. DISMISSAL OF THE COUNCIL
15.1 The school
council can only be dismissed by a decision of a special general meeting called
for that purpose. Any recommendation to dismiss the school council must be
forwarded to the Director, Sydney Region.
15.2 A new
council shall be formed in accordance with the election procedures.
15.3 Members of
the dismissed council shall be eligible to stand for election to the new
council.
16. DISSOLUTION OF THE SCHOOL COUNCIL
16.1 Any
proposal to dissolve the school council may only be considered at a special
general meeting called in accordance with constitution Section 13. Any
recommendation from the special general meeting to dissolve the council will be
forwarded to the School Education Director for consideration.
16.2 The School
Education Director will inquire into the performance of the school council and
assess the feasibility of the council’s continued existence. The School
Education Director will prepare a report of his/her findings including a
recommendation of whether this council should be dissolved or not.
16.3 a) Should the School Education Director recommend dissolution,
a copy of the report will be forwarded to the Director, Sydney Region, for
approval.
b)
Should the School Education Director recommend against dissolution, a copy of
the report will be forwarded to the council for distribution to the school community. A further special general meeting may be called
in accordance with constitution Section 13 to consider the report.
16.4 Any
recommendation form the further special general meeting to dissolve the school
council will be forwarded with a copy of the report to the Director, Sydney
Region, through the School Education Director for approval.
17. RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMTTEES/ORGANISATIONS
17.1 The council
will establish procedures for liaison with the existing Parents’ and Citizens’
Association and other school organisation, to enhance the effectiveness of
those bodies.
17.2 The school
council will provide parent and community participation in the school,
complementing and enhancing the work of the existing parent/community
organisations rather than competing with or supplanting them.
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