From The Hills To The Sea – Being The Best We Can Be
From The Hills To The Sea – Being The Best We Can Be
The School Council meets on the second Tuesday of every month (this may alter when the proposed date immediately follows a Public Holiday). School Council is responsible for establishing and maintaining school policies. If you want to know more about the school, a Council member would be one person who could provide information. Each March there is a School Council election for half of the positions. A complete list of School Council members is sent out via our Newsletter after 31st March. Being a member of School Council offers an excellent opportunity to become involved in decision-making within the school and you are invited to nominate.
Finance Committee, Buildings & Grounds Committee and PFA operate as Sub-Committees of the School Council and report to the school council at each meeting. Sub Committee meeting dates/times are advertised on the Schools Facebook and COMPASS accounts along with being included in calendar dates in the fortnightly newsletter.
What is a School Council and what does it do?
All government schools in Victoria have a school council. They are legally formed bodies that are given powers to set the key directions of a school within centrally provided guidelines. In doing this, a School Council is able to directly influence the quality of Education that the school provides for its students.
Who is on the School Council?
There are three possible categories of membership:
A mandated elected Parent category.
More than one third of the total members must be from this category. Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DET) employees can be Parent members at their child’s school as long as they are not employed at the school.
A mandated elected DET employee category.
Members of this category may make up no more than one third of the total membership of school council. The principal of the school is automatically one of these members.
An optional Community member category.
Its members are appointed by a decision of the council because of their special skills, interests or experiences. DET employees are not eligible to be Community members. The term of office for all members is two years. Half the members must retire each year, creating vacancies for the annual school council elections.
Why is parent membership so important?
Parents on school councils provide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help shape the direction of the school.
Do I need special experience to be on school council?
No. What you do need is an interest in the school and the desire to work in partnership with others to help shape the school’s future.
What do you need to do to stand for election?
The principal will issue a notice and call for nominations following the commencement of Term 1 each year. All school council elections must be completed by the end of March. If you decide to stand for election, you can arrange for someone to nominate you as a candidate or you can nominate yourself in the Parent category. DET employees whose child is enrolled in a school in which they are not employed are eligible to nominate as parents for the school council where their child is enrolled. Once the nomination form is completed, return it to the principal within the time stated on the notice of election. If there are more nominations received than there are vacancies on council, a ballot will be conducted during the two weeks after the call for nominations has closed.
Remember:
Ask at the school for help if you would like to stand for election and are not sure what to do.
Consider standing for election to council this year. Be sure to vote in the elections.
Contact Principal, Luke Haustorfer for further information.
Principal: Mr Luke Haustorfer
School No: 2253
