Bylaws

The School Council Bylaws were passed and approved at the Annual General Meeting in September, 2016.

G.H. Dawe School Council By-laws (By-laws are operating procedures)
NAME
1. The name of the school council shall be G.H. Dawe School Council.
MISSION
2. To foster the well-being and effectiveness of our school community and to enhance student learning.
GOALS
3. The goals of the school council, in keeping with the School Act and the School Councils
Regulation, are to:
     a. provide advice (i.e., input) to the staff and principal on issues of importance, such as the school philosophy, mission and vision, school discipline policies, school improvement plans, programs and directions and budget allocations to meet student needs.
     b. stimulate continuous improvement in meaningful involvement by all members of the school community.
     c. facilitate collaboration among concerned participants of the school community.
     d. support an approach to schooling in which decisions are made collaboratively and, wherever possible, at the school and classroom level.
     e. facilitate the development of a common vision for our school.
     f. facilitate a formal performance evaluation of our school council and communicate the results of this evaluation to the school board and the school community.
    g. keep the school board informed—in cooperation with the principal—of the needs of the school.
    h. support the school in its efforts to focus teachers‘ time and school resources on the essential tasks of teaching and learning.
    i. facilitate communication with educational stakeholders and the community.
GOVERNANCE and MEMBERSHIP - Town Hall Model
4. The membership of the school council shall consist of:
    a. the parents of students enrolled in G.H. Dawe School.
    b. the principal of G.H. Dawe School.
    c. teachers and support staff of G.H. Dawe School.
5. (a) The positions of the executive committee shall consist of:
    a. A chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary and treasurer (if required).
    b. All executive positions must be filled by parents of students enrolled at G.H. Dawe School.
    c. Every member of the school council and/or parent of a student enrolled at G.H. Dawe School or children in the Early Childhood Services Program are eligible to be elected to an executive position on school council.
    d. The terms of office are the annual general meeting to the following annual general meeting.
    e. The executive of school council can be elected by parents of students enrolled at G.H. Dawe School attending the annual general meeting or at the first school council meeting by school council members.
Town Hall Governance
5 (b) a. The executive committee will prepare the agenda for the general meetings and circulate minutes of the same.
    b. The executive committee will carry out the day-to-day operation of the school council.
DECISION -MAKING
6. (a) Decisions at school council meetings will be made by consensus as much as possible. The decision made by consensus must be stated clearly and recorded as such in the minutes of the meeting.
    (b) If a decision is made by a vote, the motion must be moved and seconded and passed by the majority of school council members present at the meeting.
QUORUM
7. Quorum will be attained when at least 5 members, 2 of which hold executive positions are present at a meeting.
DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE
8. (a) THE CHAIR
The chair plans meetings and prepares agendas, facilitates school council meetings, acts as spokesperson for the school council (unless otherwise delegated) and supports the school council. The chair serves as the Alberta Schools Councils‘ representative. The chair ensures the school board receives an annual report from school council.
8. (b) THE VICE-CHAIR
The vice-chair assists the chair with duties, as assigned, and in the absence of the chair, assumes the duties of the chair. The vice-chair is the designated Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)/Privacy officer of school council and manages personal information in compliance with PIPA. The vice-chair assumes responsibility, in consultation with school council, for communicating with the fundraising society.
8. (c) THE SECRETARY
The secretary keeps accurate minutes and records of school council meetings, documents and files all correspondence and communications and keeps an accurate list of names and addresses of school council members in compliance with the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). The secretary ensures all materials relating to the G.H. Dawe School Council including resources (School Council Resource Manual), all meeting minutes and any relevant documents are available to the public in an accessible location in G.H. Dawe School.
8. (d) THE TREASURER (if required)
The treasurer keeps financial transactions of the school council, reports to the school council and complies with school council and school board policies. Allowance of $500.00 for professional development.
VACANCIES
9. With the exception of the school council position filled by the principal, the school council may appoint school council members and/or school community members to fill vacancies until the election at the next annual general meeting.
COMMITTEES
10. A school council may appoint committees that consist of school council members and/or school community members. Committees report on their activities at school council meetings and meet outside of school council meetings to complete their assigned tasks.
MEETINGS
11. (a) The first meeting of the school council is held 20 school days after the annual general meeting.
    (b) The school council will meet a minimum of seven times during the school year.
    (c) Regular meeting dates will be determined by school council members attending the first meeting and/or by the executive of the school council.
    (d) Meetings will take place at the school unless indicated with a 20 school day notice to change location.
    (e) Special meetings of the school council may be called by the executive or at the written request of 5 parents of students enrolled at G.H. Dawe School.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)
12. (a) The annual general meeting of the school council will be held within 20 school days after the start of the school year or at an appropriate time during the school year determined by the school council.
    (b) The meeting will be advertised throughout the school and the community at the beginning of the school year until the date of the AGM or within 20 school days of the AGM date.
    (c) Election of school council members and/or executive positions will take place at the AGM.
    (d) All parents of students attending G.H. Dawe School are eligible for election.
    (e) All parents of students attending the G.H. Dawe School are eligible to vote at the AGM.
    (f) The business of the AGM shall include:
          i. election of school council members and/or executive members
          ii. proposed by-laws/operating procedures amendments
          iii. motion to accept a financial statement of the previous year
          iv. plans and budget for the upcoming year
          v. discussion of any major issues in which parents should have input, such as:
               (a) changes to the vision or mission statement of the school
               (b) major changes in the school program or focus
               (c) formal evaluation of the school council
ANNUAL REPORT
13. (a) In accordance with School Councils Regulation, the school council, through the chair, prepares and provides the school board with an annual report submitted by September 30th that includes:
          i. a summary of school council‘s activities of the previous year
          ii. a financial statement
          iii. a copy of the minutes of each meeting
    (b) The school council will make the annual report available to all members of the school community.
AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS/OPERATING PROCEDURES
14. (a) The by-laws remain in force from year to year, unless amended at the AGM.
    (b) The by-laws of the school council may be amended by a majority vote of the school council at an AGM.
    (c) Notice of proposed by-law amendments must be circulated with the notice of the AGM.
CODE OF ETHICS
15. All school council members shall:
    (a) abide by the legislation that governs them.
    (b) be guided by the mission statement of the school and school council.
    (c) endeavour to be familiar with school policies and operating practices and act in accordance with them.
    (d) practice the highest standards of honesty, accuracy, integrity and truth.
    (e) recognize and respect the personal integrity of each member of the school community.
    (f) declare any conflict of interest.
    (g) encourage a positive atmosphere in which individual contributions are encouraged and valued.
    (h) apply democratic principles.
    (i) consider the best interests of all students.
    (j) respect the confidential nature of some school business and respect limitations this may place on the operation of the school council.
    (k) not disclose confidential information.
    (l) limit discussions at school council meetings to matters of concern to the school community as a whole.
    (m) use the appropriate communication channels when questions or concerns arise.
    (n) promote high standards of ethical practice within the school community.
    (o) accept accountability for decisions.
    (p) not accept payment for school council activities.
PRIVACY
16. (a) School council shall adhere to the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).
    (b) School council shall not share personal information for purposes other than those of school council business.
POLICIES
17. (a) School council may develop policy for the duration of their term.
    (b) The policies of school council will be reviewed at the beginning of every new school council term to decide if each policy will be implemented for the new school council and its term.
FUNDRAISING SOCIETY
18. (a) School council will communicate regularly with the fundraising society to support their activities and to solicit support for school council activities.
    (b) School council can develop policy to promote a productive open and transparent relationship with the fundraising society.
SCHOOL COUNCIL FUNDRAISING
19. (a) School council will, where possible, encourage the fundraising society to do the fundraising for the school and the school community.
    (b) School council can fundraise and funds can be kept in a school council bank account or given to the school.
    (c) School council’s funds given to the school will be subject to the school board‘s policy on school council fundraising.