SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTION 2020

Beaufort Secondary College’s Council has the following composition:

· 7 Parent Members (elected by parents)

· 5 Department of Education and Training (DET) employee members.

Four are elected by DET employees, with the Principal acting as an “ex officio” member

· 2 Student Representatives

· 3 members co-opted from the school community.

Elected representatives serve two year terms, with around half up for re-election each year.

Beaufort Secondary College’s Council - 31 March 2019 – April 2020.

PARENTS:

Parents who will retire or are up for re-election:

Ashley McErvale

Troy McLinden

Jodie Harris

Parents who are mid-way through their term:

Colin Gerrard Louise Crowley

Kim Peacock Ann Greymans

STAFF:

Staff who will retire or are up for re-election:

Kate McGinty

Kathie Pitt

Staff who are mid-way through their term:

Jackie Kerr

Belinda Evans (Casual Vacancy 2020)

STUDENTS:

Students who will retire or are up for re-election:

Ashleigh Crowley

Victoria Homan

CO-OPTED MEMBERS (2019-20):**

PFA Representative: Leonie Perkins

Community Representative: Damian Ferarri

**These positions are filled on a year-by-year basis by the council itself.

The result of all this is that there are 3 parent and 2 DET employee vacancies to be filled at this election for the term of office 1/4/20 to 31/3/22.

2020 Election Timeline:

Notice of election and call for nominations: Wednesday, 19th February

Close of nominations: Tuesday, 3rd March (4.00 pm)

Distribution of ballot papers via newsletter (if required) Wednesday, 4th March

Election closes: Wednesday, 11th March (4.00 pm)

Declaration of Poll Results: Wednesday, 18th March

First meeting of 2020-2021 School Council** Tuesday, 24th March

** The co-opted members will be appointed at the first meeting of the 2020-2021 School Council

See the attached documents:

· School Council Elections - Information for Parents

· Schedule 5A - Self Nomination Form for Parent Member Category

· Schedule 5B - Nomination Form for Parent Member Category

Other documentation and information will be distributed via the school newsletter.

Under Department of Education and Training Development rules, the Principal is required to be in control of the School Council election process.

School Council Elections 2020

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 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 or encourag

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