Policy 17
SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCILS
The Board believes that parental and community involvement is essential to successfully
promote and achieve the goals of education. Under the direction of the Principal, each school
will establish a School Community Council to develop shared responsibility for learning success
and well-being of children and youth; to encourage and facilitate parent and community
engagement in school planning and improvement processes, and establish effective
communication among the home, school and community.
Specifically
1. The Director or designate will be responsible to:
1.1. Establish a constitution consistent for all schools within the Division.
1.2. Ensure that each school establishes a School Community Council by
October 30 of each school year.
1.3. Provide adequate resources to establish School Community Councils.
1.4. Provide division office support to facilitate the annual fall elections of
School Community Councils.
1.5. Monitor each school to ensure that school community council operates
within the regulations and guidelines established by the Saskatchewan Ministry of
Education and the Division.
1.6. Communicate regularly with School Community Council executives.
2. Principals are responsible to provide leadership to:
2.1. Communicate to parents and community members details about the
establishment of School Community Councils.
2.2. Establish a date for the School Community Council Executive election to
occur prior to October 30.
2.3. Ensure that guidelines established in the constitution are adhered to.
3. School Community Councils shall have the following as their primary purposes:
3.1. To serve as an advisory group to the Principal and school community.
3.2. Provide input for establishing guidelines for fundraising activities, school
fees and Student Codes of Conduct within the limitations of Board policy and
administrative procedures.
3.3. Under the leadership of the Principal review and approve an annual school
improvement plan that is aligned with the Division’s priorities and Strategic Plan.
3.4. To stimulate by appropriate means participation by parents and the
community generally in the improvement of educational services in the school.
3.5.
3.6. To provide advice to the Principal to ensure the best possible educational
environment for the students in the school.
3.7. To recommend to the Director proposals that may be considered for the
improvement of the educational standards and opportunities in the Division.
4. Following are some basic assumptions and guidelines regarding effective School
Community Councils:
4.1. The Principal is the key person in facilitating the work of Councils.
4.2. Council programs may vary in format to encourage the participation of its
membership, e.g. small group, large group.
4.3.
4.4. Leadership in-service activities will be made available to members of the
School Community Councils.
4.5. The membership of Councils will receive feedback on what has happened
to its recommendations and proposals.
4.6. Principals will encourage staff to be receptive to parents or community
members who wish to provide input on decision-making at the school.
4.7. Principals shall initiate activities at the school level designed to promote
communication between the school and the home, and the school and the
community.
4.8. Some methods the Principal may use to promote communication are:
4.8.1. Electronic communications
4.8.2. Adult volunteers
4.8.3. News bulletins and newsletters
4.8.4. Student-led conferences
4.8.5. School visitations
4.8.6. School displays
4.8.7. School handbooks
4.9. The Director will ensure the School Community Council constitution
describes the purposes, structure, and relationships between the Council and the
Principal, and the Council and the Board.
4.10.
4.11. In order to facilitate communication with the Board, the following will
occur:
4.11.1. The names of trustees and the schedule of Board meeting dates
will be made available to every School Community Council in the
Division.
4.11.2. When a Council desires a trustee to attend a meeting, the request is
to be made to the Director or Board Chair.
4.11.3.
4.12. The delegation process at regular or special Board meetings provides
opportunities for individuals or groups to address the Board and for the Board to
receive items of interest from its constituents.
5. From time to time School Community Councils may choose to fundraise for projects at
their schools. The Board believes that the partnership with the School Community
Council is an asset for students, staff and community. It also believes that it is the
Board’s responsibility to meet the basic expectations for resources, materials and
equipment required to meet the educational needs of students. he following criteria have
been established to guide school-based fundraising projects sponsored by School
Community Councils.
5.1. Fundraising projects that aim to provide basic supplies, materials or
equipment will require prior approval by the Director of Education.
5.2. Projects that involve ongoing maintenance and support by Division
personnel will require prior approval by the Director of Education.
5.3. Projects that involve either Building Code or CSA standards require prior
approval from the Director of Education.
5.4. Fundraising projects should not result in accumulated funds carried
forward from year to year unless the funds are for a pre-approved multi-year
project.
5.5. Projects that enhance extracurricular activities, guest performances,
special activities for students beyond current standards, or equipment beyond the
standard inventory, will be supported.
5.6. The Director will provide an annual report to the Board on the fundraising
projects undertaken by the School Community Councils.
Legal Reference: Section 140.1, 140.2, 140.3, 140.4, 140.5 Education Act
Adopted: November 2008
Amended: April 10, 2013
Amended: December 2022
Updated: February 2023