School Council Positions Are Now Open

**Nominations are now open for the Wangaratta High School Council and will close on Tuesday 18th of February 2025**

Information for parents of children seeking election to school council

Wangaratta High School Council

The appointment of our next School Council is upon us again with our AGM planned for the 18th March. We have several retiring members. I wish to thank all council members for contributing to Wangaratta High School. I am pleased that several current Council members are keen to renominate and continue as Council members, in addition to those that have time left to serve in their two-year appointment.

If members of the school community would like to be involved in shaping the future of Wangaratta High School, please consider nominating for School Council. Nomination forms can be obtained from the Administration Office or via email to laura.delacy@education.vic.gov.au.  Nominations close on Tuesday 18th of February 2025

What is a school council and what does it do?

All government schools in Victoria have a school council. School councils are legal entities that are given powers to set the broad directions of a school in accordance with Ministerial Order 1280 Constitution of Government School Councils and the Education and Training Reform Act 2006. 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?

For all schools with a student cohort of Year 7 and above, there are several possible categories of school council membership:

• a mandated elected parent member category –members of this category generally comprise more than one third of the council’s total membership. Parents and guardians of children attending the school are eligible for membership in this category.
• 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 school is automatically a member of this category.
• a mandated elected student member category (two positions) – members of this category are enrolled at the school and in Year 7 or above.
• an optional community member category – members are co-opted by a decision of the council because of their special skills, interests or expertise. Department employees are not eligible to be a community member.
• a small number of school councils have nominee members.

How long is the term of office?

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.

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?

This message is a call for nominations. All school council elections must be completed by the end of March. If you decide to stand, you can arrange for someone to nominate you as a candidate or you can nominate yourself in the Parent category.

Department of Education 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 (via the Administration Office) or tolaura.delacy@education.vic.gov.au by 4pm on Tuesday, 18th February. 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 the council, a ballot will be conducted during the two weeks after the call for nominations has closed.

Remember:

• Ask the school for help if you would like to stand for election and are not sure what to do
• Contact me for further information or questions

Dave Armstrong

Executive Principal