To involve parents and community members in educational partnership with the school

The School Council functions in accordance with Ontario Regulation 612/00 and Amendments to Regulation 612/00 and Amendments to Regulation 298 (Ontario Regulation 613/00) made under the Education Act.

The School Council provides input to the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and to the Principal to develop and revise policies that affect students of Sir John A. Macdonald C.I.

The name of this group shall be Sir John A. Macdonald Collegiate Institute School Council (hereinafter referred to as the "Council".)

2.1 Membership shall include the following elected and/or appointed representatives to a maximum of twenty (20) voting members and three (3) non-voting members.

This Council is an advisory body to the Principal and the Toronto District School Board. The purpose of the School Council is to improve student achievement and to enhance the accountability of the education system to parents. The primary means of achieving this purpose is by making recommendations in accordance with Regulation 612/00 to the Principal of the school and the Toronto District School Board.

Council may make recommendations or advise on any matter, including:

3.1.1 Local school-year calendar

3.1.2 Code of conduct

3.1.3 Curriculum and school goals and priorities

3.1.4 The responses of the school or school board to achievement in provincial and board assessment programs

3.1.5 Preparation of the school profile

3.1.6 Criteria for the selection of Principal and Vice Principal

3.1.7 School budget priorities, including local capital improvement plans

3.1.8 School budget reviews

3.1.9 School community communications strategies

3.1.10 Methods of reporting to parents and community

3.1.11 Extracurricular activities in the school

3.1.12 School-based services and community partnerships related to social, health, recreational, and nutrition programs

3.1.13 Community use of school facilities

3.1.14 Local co-ordination of services for children and youths

3.1.15 Development, implementation, and review of board policies at the local level

3.1.16 Local school safety procedures

3.1.17 School reviews

3.1.18 Environmental, health and safety issues

3.1.19 Fundraising activities of school councils

3.1.20 Allocation of funding by the Board to school councils

3.1.21 Conflict resolution processes for internal school council disputes

3.1.22 Other items outlined in Regulation 612/00

The Council members will:

3.2.1 Promote the best interest of the school community.

3.2.2 Maintain a school-wide focus on all issues.

3.2.3 Respect the personal and professional rights and responsibilities of individuals.

3.2.4 Encourage the participation of parents from all groups and of other people within the school community.

3.2.5 Promote the all-round development of students and encourage the achievement of academic excellence, in order to help students maximize their career opportunities and become useful members of the society.

3.2.6 Consult with parent(s) of pupils enrolled in the school about matters under consideration by the Council.

The Council shall:

3.3.1 Maintain a Constitution that meets the needs of the school/community and the requirements of Regulation 612/00.

3.3.2 Establish its goals, priorities, and procedures.

3.3.3 Encourage members to develop their skills as Council members by attending information and training sessions organized by the Board of Education.

3.3.4 Communicate regularly with parents and other members of the community to seek their views and preferences with regard to matters being addressed by the Council and to report on the activities of the Council to the community.

3.3.5 Work within existing policies and procedures of the Board.

3.3.6 Annually review goals, priorities, procedures and the Constitution.

3.3.7 Ensure that all meetings are open to members of the school community.

3.4.1 Formal recommendations and decisions of the Council shall be communicated to the school Principal.

3.4.2 The Council shall prepare and submit a formally approved annual report at the end of each school year, outlining its goals, activities and achievements. This report will be forwarded to the Principal, local Trustee, the area Superintendent, and will also be made available to the local community.

3.4.3 Recommendations and decisions which are broader in scope than the school may be referred to the Principal, to the local Trustee and/or the appropriate Board representative or committee.

3.4.4 The existence of Council does not preclude a single individual from accessing the Board in the appropriate manner, and bringing matters to the attention of the Council.

4.1.1 The officers of the Council shall be elected annually from within its membership at the first Council meeting and are to be as follows: 2 Co-Chairpersons, where possible, and a Secretary.

4.1.2 The Council year shall run from September to August.

4.1.3 The Co-Chairpersons shall be parents/guardians of a pupil enrolled in the school and may not be an employee of the Toronto District School Board.

4.1.4 Nominations for all positions will be accepted by the Principal during the first 30 days of the school year.

4.1.5 All of the parents, students, community representatives, teaching and non-teaching positions shall be designated one-year terms of office.

4.1.6 Vacancies created during the term will be filled by appointment of Council.

The Co-Chairpersons of the Council shall:

5.1.1 Call Council meetings

5.1.2 Prepare the agenda for Council meetings.

5.1.3 Ensure that the agenda is prepared and distributed to Council members and made available in the school two (2) school days prior to the Council meeting.

5.1.4 Chair Council meetings.

5.1.5 Ensure that the minutes of Council meetings are recorded and maintained as a continuous record.

5.1.6 Participate in information and training programs.

5.1.7 Communicate with the school Principal on a regular basis.

5.1.8 Ensure that there is regular communication with the school community.

5.1.9 Consult with senior Board staff and Trustees, as required.

5.1.10 Ensure that committees are appropriately appointed as required.

5.1.11 Ensure that the agendas and minutes of the past four years of this Council be kept on file in the office for parents/guardians and members of the school community. The Macdonald web site will include Council minutes for the previous two years.

5.1.12 The Co-Chair may not be an employee of the Toronto District School Board.

The Secretary of the Council shall:

5.2.1 Maintain complete records of all meetings in a timely manner.

5.2.2 Ensure that the minutes are distributed to all Council members and persons in attendance as soon as possible prior to the next meeting.

5.2.3 Ensure a complete set of minutes and papers is kept on file in the school office.

5.2.4 Maintain the attendance records of all Council members and inform the Co-Chairpersons immediately if the attendance of an elected or appointed member falls below the accepted level (60% or failure to attend 3 consecutive meetings) and is in danger of being asked to resign.

The Principal of the school shall:

5.3.1 Facilitate and assist in the operation of the Council.

5.3.2 Assist, advise, co-operate and consult with the Council as it works towards achieving its goals and purposes.

5.3.3 Support and promote the Council's activities.

5.3.4 Seek input from the Council in areas for which it has been assigned advisory responsibility.

5.3.5 Act as a resource on laws, regulations, board policies, and collective agreements.

5.3.6 Obtain and provide information required by the Council to enable it to make informed decisions.

5.3.7 Communicate with the Co-Chairpersons of the Council on a regular basis.

5.3.8 Maintain a file of the Council’s minutes and agendas in addition to any relevant information and publications which will enable Council members to better perform their duties and responsibilities and parents/guardians to be better informed about the school and the education system.

5.3.9 Assist the Council in communicating with the school community.

5.3.10 Maintain the authority, responsibilities and obligations of the principalship as mandated by Board policy, and the Education Act and Regulations of the Province of Ontario.

5.3.11 Ensure that the annual council elections are held according to Regulation 612/00.

5.3.12 Ensure written notice is given to parents of Council meetings in accordance with regulation 612/00.

Members of the Council shall:

5.4.1 Participate in Council meetings.

5.4.2 Participate in information and training programs.

5.4.3 Act as a link between the Council and the community.

5.4.4 Attend Council meetings on a regular basis.

5.4.5 Declare a conflict of interest in matters that they, members of their family or business in which they may have an interest, stand to benefit either directly or indirectly by decisions of the Council.

6.1 Committees will be established as required and may include but not be limited to:

6.1.1 Procedures and operation of the Council

6.1.2 Educational issues

6.1.3 Community involvement programs

6.1.4 Fund-raising considerations

6.1.5 Improving Council/school/parent communication

6.2 A close link will be established with the school's curriculum committees and Curriculum Leaders.

6.3 It is not necessary to be an elected member of the Council to become a member of these committees, or chair committees set up by the Council.

6.4 Any member of the school community having a special project which would benefit the school community is free to address the Council and may be appointed to head that committee.

6.5 The Council will encourage volunteers from the school community to participate in committees and activities initiated by the Council.

6.6 Committee members will make regular reports to the Council on the findings and recommendations of the committee.

6.7 Each Council committee must have one parent member of Council among its membership.

7.1 Meetings for the year will be scheduled at the first Council meeting of the school year.

7.2 The Council will schedule not less than four (4) meetings during a school council year.

7.3 Meetings shall be open to all parents/guardians, teachers, students, and other members of the community who wish to attend.

7.4 The date, time and place of the first Council meeting will be decided by the Principal. The remaining meetings will be decided by Council members at the first meeting of the Council.

7.5 Minutes of all meetings will be available upon request and kept in the school office.

7.6 While voting is the responsibility of the twenty (20) voting members, all members of the school community at large may voice their ideas and opinions at any meeting. For issues of major concern, one of the Co-Chairpersons should be approached and asked for these concerns to be added to the agenda.

7.7 The Co-Chairpersons have an obligation to bring any issues raised by members of the community to the attention of the Council at the next meeting, at which time the Council shall decide when the issues shall be heard.

8.1 A quorum to conduct a business meeting requires 60% attendance of its Council members and a parent/guardian voting member majority.

8.2 Although Council will strive for consensus, a simple majority of those members present rules in matters brought to a vote.

9.1 Should a Council member miss any three meetings within one Council year without just cause, that member may be asked to resign.

9.2 If a position of elected representative becomes vacant from resignation or any other reason, the Council shall appoint an eligible person to serve the balance of the term of office until the next election.

Amendments to this Constitution require two weeks' written notice to be sent to all parents prior to the meeting which shall be open to the community, and a quorum as defined in Article 8 of this Constitution.

11.1.1 Parent/Guardian representatives are to be elected from and by parents and guardians of students enrolled in the school.

11.1.2 The election shall be within the first 30 days of the school year.

11.1.3 The Council shall encourage parents/guardians representing a wide cross-section of the community to run for election so that it may have the benefit of advice from people of different walks of life.

11.1.4 The Principal will ensure the integrity of the entire election procedure.

11.1.5 The Council shall appoint an Elections Ad Hoc Committee to assist the Principal with the election process. Candidates who are declaring cannot be members of this Ad Hoc Committee.

11.1.6 The Elections Ad Hoc Committee will meet with the Principal and decide on their duties, which will include the following:

11.1.7 Parents/guardians wishing to seek a term on the Council shall complete a Candidate Declaration Form (a sample format is included in Appendix A) and hand it to the Principal on or before the published deadline. Candidates may provide, if they so wish, a biography of not more than a hundred (100) words which shall include information on some or all of the following:

11.1.8 The candidates list, biography, and voting information shall be made available in the school office five (5) school days prior to the election.

11.1.9 Candidates shall be listed by surname on the ballot in random order to be determined by lot. (A sample format is included in Appendix B)

11.1.10 Elections will be conducted by secret ballot. Neither proxy nor absentee voting is permitted. Voters must be present at the school and must vote in person.

11.1.11 Each parent/guardian of students enrolled in the school may cast one vote for each position of parent/guardian representative posted in a particular election.

11.1.12 If there is a tie for the final position for a representative on the Council, the winner shall be determined by lot drawn by the Principal in the presence of the candidates or their representative, if they so desire.

11.1.13 If the number of declared candidates received is fewer than the number of positions to be filled, then those candidates shall be acclaimed and no election shall be held.

11.1.14 No individual campaign literature for Council elections may be distributed or posted on school property.

11.1.15 School and Board resources, both human and material, may not be used to support any candidates.

11.1.16 The names of the successful candidates shall be posted in the school office.

11.2.1 The Principal, in consultation with the outgoing Council, calls the first public meeting of Council within thirty (30) days of the election. The time, date, place and agenda of the meeting shall be posted in the school office and distributed to parents not less than fourteen (14) school days prior to the meeting.

11.2.2 At the first meeting, the newly elected Council shall elect two (2) Co-Chairpersons, where possible, and a Secretary.

11.2.3 In the event that the number of declared candidates is less than the number of elected positions, the newly elected Council shall appoint the necessary number of eligible persons to fill any vacancies.

11.2.4 All appointments to the Council shall be by majority vote of the voting members then serving on the Council, and shall be made at a public meeting with two (2) weeks prior public notice of the meeting.

11.2.5 The Council shall appoint four (4) Community Representatives.

11.2.6 Should both election and appointment fail to fill all the vacancies, the Council shall proceed to operate as long as a parent majority exists.

11.2.7 The date, time and place of meetings of the Council for the remainder of the Council year shall be decided at this meeting.

11.2.8 The names of officers and members of the Council and the date, time and place of meetings shall be posted in the school office and publicized through the school newsletter.

11.2.9 Acclaimed candidates and appointed voting members shall have the same standing as elected candidates.

11.3 Election of Teacher Representatives

11.3.1 Representatives of the teaching staff shall be elected by their peers at an election to be held in September and supervised by the Principal.

11.3.2 The term of office shall be one year.

11.4.1 A representative of the Support Staff shall be elected by his/her peers at an election to be held in September and supervised by the Principal.

11.4.2 The term of office shall be one year.

11.5.1 Two student representatives, one enrolled in either grade nine or grade ten, and one enrolled in either grade eleven or grade twelve, shall be elected by the student body in September in an election supervised by the Principal.

11.5.2 The term of office shall be one year.

Appendix A

Name:_______________________________________________________________________

Address:______________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Home Phone# _________________________Business Phone # ________________________

I am the parent/guardian of ______________________________________________________

who is/are currently registered at this school.

Student number, if applicable: _________________________________

I wish to declare my candidacy for an elected position as a parent/guardian representative on the School Council. I understand the role and responsibilities of a member of the School Council as defined in the Constitution (a copy is available in the main office of Sir John A. Macdonald C.I and on the website at http://macdonald.egate.net).

Signature: ____________________________________Date:___________________________

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Candidates are invited to provide a biography of not more than a hundred (100) words, which may include information on: (1) your profession, (2) skills you can contribute to the Council, (3) your previous community experience, (4) issues you will address if elected, and (5) approaches you will use to obtain and represent parents' views. This biography will be used to publicize your candidacy to all Sir John A. Macdonald C.I. parents/guardians in preparation for a September election. Those declaring candidacy for the position of Co-Chair may not be an employee of the Toronto District School Board.

The deadline for submission of candidate declarations and biographies is date.

Voting will take place during the following hours: September (date/time)

The School Council members will:

The School Council shall:

The members of the School Council shall:

NOTE:

Appendix B

Place an "X" in the box before the name(s) of the candidate(s) of your choice

_____________________ _____________________

_____________________ _____________________

_____________________ _____________________

_____________________ _____________________

_____________________ _____________________

_____________________ _____________________

_____________________ _____________________

_____________________ _____________________