School Council

TIMELINE FOR SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2024

Thurs 22rd Feb. Call for nominations for

Thurs 7th Mar Closing Date for Nominations

Thurs 14th Mar Ballot Papers Distributed (If necessary)

Thurs 21st Mar Close of Ballot for School Council

Mon 27th Mar New Council is able to meet.

The first meeting of the new Council will be held on Monday 25th March to elect the office bearers. This meeting is chaired by the principal. Thereafter, the fully constituted new School Council will meet, chaired by the duly elected president.

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 Early Childhood Development (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 of Election 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.

DET 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.

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.

What is the workload?

School council must meet at least twice each term

Meetings should be restricted to approximately 2.5 – 3 hours duration at most

All school councilors are expected to sit on at least one sub-committee. Sub-committees also meet at least twice each term

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF SCHOOL COUNCIL

Establish the broad direction and vision of the school within the school's community
Develop and monitor the school strategic plan
Develop, review and update school policies
Develop, review and monitor the Student Code of Conduct and the School Dress Code
Raise funds for school related purposes
Approve the annual budget and monitor expenditure
Maintain the school’s grounds and facilities
Enter into contracts (e.g. cleaning, construction work)
Report annually to the school community and to DET.
Stimulate interest in the school generally

THE COUNCIL DOES NOT:

Manage the school
Employ teaching staff
Represent sectional interests
Renew the principal's contract or hire and fire the school principal
Determine class allocations
Discuss individual issues between teachers and students and/or parents
Purchase land, buildings or motor vehicles
Enter into hire purchase agreements or obtain credit or loan facilities, unless authorized by the Minister