Organization of Parent Advisory Councils

 

School communities throughout the Sunshine Coast are quite varied, and they are organized within the framework of provincial and Board of Education policy to best meet their individual needs.

 

The School Act requires that Parent Advisory Councils, “...in consultation with the principal, must make bylaws governing its meetings and the business and conduct of its affairs...”

 

At no time is the educational program, achievement, well-being, or behaviour of a particular individual student discussed at a Parent Advisory Council meeting.   

 

At no time are specific personnel matters relating to an individual member of support staff or teaching staff discussed at a Parent Advisory Council meeting.

 

Parents who wish to discuss their child's educational program are requested to communicate with the child's classroom teacher(s) and the principal.

 

Membership

All parents/guardians of children in a school are members of the Parent Advisory Council and entitled to attend meetings. The principal will be a member (ex officio) of the Parent Advisory Council.  A teacher representative may also attend the meetings to provide information, answer questions, and discuss school matters and parental concerns.  Members of the Board of Education often attend PAC meetings as invited guests to listen and to support the PAC and the school.

 

Executive

At an annual general meeting held in the spring or fall, PACs elect an executive usually consisting of a chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer. Some PACs elect committee chairs (e.g., fundraising chair, volunteer chair) and members at large to the executive as well. Elected PAC executives often hold regular executive meetings between general PAC meetings to organize and carry out the day-to-day work of the PAC.

 

Voting

Decisions reached by consensus are often more effective, because there has been dialogue and discussion to get to the point where a majority of people are in agreement.

However, if an issue is delicate or controversial – or if the decision requires a strict following of Roberts' Rules of Order, then voting will be the best option.

 

All parents/guardians of children in a school are entitled to vote at the general PAC meeting. The principal, teacher representative and student representative do not vote. Board of Education guests do not vote.  If your PAC executive holds regular executive meetings, only elected executive members usually vote. Other parents, administrators, staff and student representatives may attend the executive meetings, but do not vote.

 

Elections

Election of the members of the Parent Advisory Council executive takes place at a general Parent Advisory Council meeting called for this purpose. Only parents/guardians of students who attend the school are entitled to vote for members of its PAC executive. In many schools, this general election meeting of the PAC is held in May or June so that the executive is in place for the start of the next school year. Other school communities find it works best for them to hold elections in September or early October. It is up to each Parent Advisory Council to select the timing that best meets their members' needs.