District School Council   (Agenda and Minutes)

 The school council and school-based decision-making impact education at the site.  However, issues that arise at school council meetings may be regional, provincial or affected by district decision.  According to the School Act, “a school council may advise the school board respecting any matter relating to the school”. While a trustee might attend a school council meeting and the principal can bring district news to the school, school councils can seem isolated.  Forming a district school council with representatives from each of the school councils, the school board and the Superintendent of Lethbridge School District No. 51 will improve communication and promote cooperative action among our school councils.

 FUNCTIONS OF THE DISTRICT SCHOOL COUNCIL

 a)    Share information among school councils

b)    Consult with other school councils on wider education issues

c)    Communicate information both ways between the district/school board and the school councils

d)    Provide input to the school board and central office on broader education issues, including the district budget

e)    Inform the community about education concerns

f)     Promote school council in-service and training

g)    Assist in providing parent representatives for standing and ad hoc school board committees

STRUCTURE OF DISTRICT SCHOOL COUNCIL

Membership shall include:

·        2 representatives from each school council; however, each school has one vote should any decision be decided by District School Council

·        1 ATA Representative

·        1 Principal Representative

·        the Superintendent (who is a non-voting member); and

·        1 Board of Trustee Representative (who is non-voting member)

Because the District School Council is not intended to detract from the legislated powers of the School Council, any formal actions of the District School Council require consensus of all School Councils attending the meeting.

A District School Council executive consisting of a chairperson, vice-chair, and secretary will be elected annually.

There will be a minimum of 5 meetings, normally occurring on the last Monday evening of the month held at the board office.  These meetings are open to the public.

 Agenda items should be forwarded to either the chairperson or the superintendent’s executive assistant.  The agenda will be drawn up jointly by the chairperson and the Superintendent.