College Council Elections

Nominations are now open for three parent vacancies, two staff vacancies, and one student vacancy on our College Council. If you are an enthusiastic parent, student, staff member or community member interested in getting more involved and having a say in what our school is doing, or know someone who is, we would love to hear from you. We are looking for people who are committed to improving the educational outcomes for all our students.

Effective councils have a broad range of experience, skills and expertise. Face-to-face and online training is also available to help councillors develop the skills and knowledge for the job. Parents find their involvement satisfying and may also find that their children feel a greater sense of belonging.

Nominations close on Thursday February 23, 2023, at 2:00 pm and forms are available from the College office.

School Councils play a vital role in the educational opportunities and outcomes of all students at the school. In essence, the role of School Council is one of setting the long-term future for the school and maintaining oversight (not management) of the school's operation.  I would like our parents and staff to consider nominating for Kyabram P-12 College Council in 2023.  Nomination forms for College Council will be available to collect from the offices in our school, from Friday February 10th and close on Thursday February 23, 2023, at 2:00 pm. The Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday March 15, 2023, at 6:45pm.  Please continue reading below for further information.

School Council Elections – Information for Parents

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 college provides for its students.

Who is on the School Council?

There are three possible categories of membership:

• A mandated elected Parent member category. More than one third of the total members must be from this category. Department of Education and Training (DET) employees can be Parent members at their child’s college as long as they are not employed at the school.
• A mandated elected school employee member category. Members of this category may make up no more than one third of the total membership of school council. The principal of the college is automatically one of these members.
• A mandated elected Student member category – members of this category are enrolled at the school and in Year 7 or above.
• An optional Community member category - members are appointed by a decision of the council because of their special skills, interests, or experiences. Department employees are not eligible to be Community members.

Generally, the term of office for all members is two years. The term of office of half the members expires 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.

Those parents who become active on a school council find their involvement satisfying in itself and may also find that their children feel a greater sense of belonging.

How can you become involved?

The most obvious way is to vote in the elections, which are held in Term 1 each year.  However, ballots are only held if more people nominate as candidates than there are positions vacant.

In view of this, you might seriously consider:

• standing for election as a member of the school council
• encouraging another person to stand for election.

Do I need special experience to be on college council?

No. What you do need is an interest in your child’s 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 unless the usual time line has been varied by the Minister.

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.

Department employees whose child is enrolled in a school in which they are not engaged in work are eligible to nominate for Parent membership of the school council at that school. 

Once the nomination form is completed, return it to the principal within the time stated on the notice of election. You will receive a Nomination Form Receipt following the receipt of your completed nomination.

Generally, 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 if are not sure what to do
• Consider standing for election to council this year
• Be sure to vote in the elections (if this occurs)
• Contact the Principal for further information.

The terms of office, membership categories and number of positions in each membership category open for election are as follows – 

If the number of nominations is less than the number of vacancies, a notice to that effect and calling for further nominations will be posted in a prominent position at the school.

Marina Walsh

Acting College Principal