Fairhills Forum

School Council Elections

School Council elections are upon us again

Term of office is for two years with half of members retiring each year but eligible for re-election. Four parents, two staff members and two student members end their term of office in March 2021.

There are a number of retiring members:

  • Robyn Grunberg               staff
  • Kristy Burrell                      staff
  • Neil Morris                         community
  • Stephen Damm                 community
  • Kim Morris                          parent
  • Kylie Bakker                        parent
  • Caroline Barrett                 parent

I wish to thank these councillors for their contribution to the governance of Fairhills High School.

If members of the school community would like to be involved in shaping the future of Fairhills High School, please consider nominating for school council. 

 

Timeline

  • Call for nominations from Friday 19 February. Nomination forms can be obtained from the General Office. 
  • Call for nominations close Friday 12 March 2021 at 4pm.
  • Monday 15 March Nominations displayed at Fairhills High School.
  • Election held if required. Friday 19 March close of ballot 4.00pm. Votes counted.
  • Tuesday 30 March School Council meeting with new members 

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 Training (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.

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 school 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. 

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. You will receive a Nomination Form Receipt in the mail following the receipt of your completed nomination.

If there are more nominations received than there are vacancies on council, a ballot will be conducted 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 me for further information.

 

 

Ian Van Schie

Principal