June, 2014

Hodan Nalayeh Secondary School

School Council Constitution

Article 1: Name and Address

The organization will be known as Hodan Nalayeh Secondary School Council. The members of the School Council shall be responsible for maintaining the constitution.

Hodan Nalayeh Secondary School

1401 Clark Ave W, Vaughan, ON L4J 7R4

(905) 660-1397

Article 2: Mission Statement

Hodan Nalayeh Secondary School Council will promote and facilitate parental engagement by collaborating with administration, teachers, support staff, students and the community with the

goal of providing educational excellence to every student enabling them to acquire the skills and

attitudes to prepare them for life-long learning in an ever-changing global society.

Article 3: Purpose and Objectives

1. Encourage meaningful involvement of parents and all members of the school community

in support of student learning by focusing on the following areas: parenting skills,

communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision making and collaborating with

the community.

2. Facilitate the building of a viable school community, which works together in the best

interests of our students and their education.

3. Provide a means for regular communication and dialogue between all partners in

education.

4. Help to co-ordinate the services for school, family and community partnerships related to

social, health, safety, recreational and nutrition programs that assist in the education of

children.

5. Provide input into decisions made by the school administration, the Board and the

Ministry.

6. Participate in the school improvement planning process.

Article 4: Procedures and Operating Guidelines

The operational procedures of this Council are outlined in YRDSB Policy #262. All

recommendations and activities of the Council shall comply with all Ministry of Education Acts,

York Region District School Board Policies and Procedures, Ontario Regulations 612/00 and

298, and Staff Collective Agreements.

Article 5: Membership

The School Council is composed of parent members, the principal (and vice principals) and

representatives of community, students, teachers and support staff as specified below. Each

member of the Council is considered a voting member, with the exception of the principal (and

vice principals).

5.1: Parent Members

- The number of parents on the School Council will be a minimum of 6 and no more

than 15. In the event that the number of volunteers significantly exceeds the number

of places set out in the constitution, then the Council may consider reviewing their

structure for that school year. The parent members must form the majority of Council

members (i.e., 50% +1).

- There shall be no more than one member on the School Council from any one

household. Other members of the same household may attend meetings as a nonvoting

participant.

- A parent member cannot be employed at the school with the exception of school (lay) assistants.

- If a parent works for the Board but not at the school, they can be a parent member as

long as he/she informs the school community prior to the election.

5.2: Community Representatives

- The number of community representatives will be at least one and no more than four

appointed by the Council.

- A community representative cannot be employed at the school with the exception of

school (lay) assistants.

- If a member of community works for the Board but not at the school, they can be a

community representative as long as he/she informs the school community prior to

the election.

5.3: Student Representative

There will be at least one student and no more than two, appointed by the Student

Council.

5.4: Other Members

- Principal (ex-officio). In the absence of principal, a vice principal shall attend the

meeting.

- One teacher representative (elected or appointed in accordance with YRDSB Policy

#262)

- One support staff representative (elected or appointed in accordance with YRDSB

Policy #262)

Article 6: Elections

6.1: Acclamations

Parent elections shall be by acclamation when the number of candidates is equal to, or

less than the number of parent member positions on the Council.

6.2: Election Procedures for Parent Members

1. Each parent/guardian seeking election must be nominated or self-nominated in writing,

must have a child registered at the school, and must declare if he or she is employed by

the Board.

2. During election, each parent/guardian of a student enrolled in the school shall be entitled

to one vote for each vacant parent/guardian membership position on the Council.

3. The election committee, composed of the previous year’s council members, shall:

- provide nomination forms;

- ensure that the school community is notified of election procedures and election

date(s), location, and time, at least fourteen days in advance of election;

- request a written or verbal profile from all candidates and make these available to the

electorate;

- conduct the elections by secret ballot at the first meeting;

- count the ballots;

- help the principal notify all candidates of the results;

- keep all the ballot counts and related information confidential;

- only release the names of successful candidates. A list of candidates and the vote

results will be kept on file for use in the event of vacancy on the Council.

- notify all individuals standing for election of the results before the results are released

to the school community.

6.3: Terms of Office

Elected and appointed members will serve a one-year term. Elected and appointed

members may seek additional terms of office.

6.4: Vacancies in Membership

- A vacancy in the membership of the School Council does not prevent the Council

from exercising its authority.

- If at any time during the school year, due to resignation or removal, the

parent/guardian majority falls below 50% + 1, the Council shall recruit additional

members to restore the majority.

- If parent member positions remain vacant on the Council, after the election, the

Council may appoint parent members.

- Positions that become vacant due to resignation or removal shall be filled as soon as

possible in the following order:

i) By offering the person with the next largest number of votes who was not

elected, the opportunity to accept the position.

ii) Where there are not enough candidates to fill the vacancies, notice will be

sent to all parents informing them of the vacancies and application by

interested volunteers sought.

iii) If there are more applications than positions, an election will be called.

iv) When no more candidates are available, the Council may appoint parent

members.

- Vacancies will only be filled until June of the current year, at which time the vacant

positions will be filled through September elections.

6.5: Resignations

- Anyone who is a council member, except the principal, may resign their position by

writing a letter of resignation to the Chair/Co-chairs.

- If someone resigns, the position vacated will be filled according to Article 6.4:

Vacancies.

6.6: Removal

The Council may choose to remove from council any member who misses three (3)

consecutive meetings and shall undertake to replace that person according to Article 6.4:

Vacancies.

Article 7: Executive Officers

7.1: Co-Chairs

At the first meeting of the school year, the Council will elect two Co-chairs from among

the members elected/appointed to the Council. The Council may choose to have one

Chair and one Vice Chair instead of two Co-chairs. The Co-chairs (or Chair and Vice

Chair) must be parent members and cannot be an employee of the Board.

7.2: Other Officers

At the first meeting of the school year, the Council will elect the following two officers

from among the members elected/appointed to the Council: Secretary and Treasurer with

provisions for their absence.

7.3: Vacancies in Office

Officer vacancies will be filled as soon as possible according to Article 7.1 and 7.2.

Article 8: Sub-Committees

8.1: Establishment

At the first meeting of the school year or at any regular meeting throughout the year, subcommittees

may be formed to:

- conduct more detailed or in-depth work than is possible during council meetings,

- make recommendations to the Council,

- keep the Council informed of issues and developments in its particular area.

8.2: Sub-Committee Membership

- Each sub-committee must contain at least one parent member of the Council.

- Persons, who are not members of council, may be members of sub-committees.

8.3: Chairs of Sub-Committees

Each sub-committee will appoint its own chair.

Article 9: Meetings

9.1: Timetable of Meetings

- At the last meeting of the school year, a tentative timetable will be created that

proposes the meeting dates and times for the following year.

- At the first meeting of the new school year, the new Council shall review and

approve the proposed meeting dates for that school year. A copy of these dates and

times will be included in communication(s) to the families of the school.

- A copy of the list of dates and times of meetings will be sent to the local trustee.

- It is recognized that the timetable may change at any time.

9.2: Quorum

A meeting will have quorum if:

- The majority of council members are present,

AND

- The majority of those present are parents.

A meeting of council can be held if there is no quorum but all voting will be deferred.

9.3: Decision-making

The preferred method to resolve issues on council is by consensus. Consensus is a

collective opinion or general agreement by ALL the Council members.

In the case where a decision cannot be reached through consensus, the chair may decide

on one of the following:

- To have a vote by way of a show of hands or a silent vote by those present in which a

50% +1 majority shall carry the vote

- To defer the issue to the next meeting

- To defer the issue to a special meeting

- To defer the issue to a sub-committee

9.4: Conflict of Interest

- If individual council members perceive themselves to be in conflict of interest, they

are honour bound to declare their conflict at the earliest possible opportunity and at

the time of the meeting, so the minutes may reflect this declaration.

- Council members cannot receive any remuneration for their work as a member of

council.

9.5: Conflict Resolution

The Council will undertake to resolve all internal conflicts within its mandate in a timely

manner. The Council will abide by any conflict resolution policy issued by the Board.

- The Council believes that its operation can be conducted based on mutual respect in

the interest of students and the school community.

- All members are encouraged to follow the Code of Ethics as listed in Appendix A.

- All members are expected to exercise their role with positive attitude in a democratic

manner to minimize conflict.

- From time to time a dispute may arise amongst the members of the Council. It is

expected that the members of the Council will make every effort to resolve it

themselves. It is the responsibility of the Chair/Co-chairs to facilitate the resolution

of conflict.

- Should an internal dispute require outside intervention to achieve resolution, the

Chair/Co-chairs in consultation with principal shall agree on a mediator. The

mediator can be the school trustee or a community representative who is not a

member of the Council.

- In the event of unsuccessful mediation, the matter will be taken to the Superintendent

of Education who will assess the situation and determine an appropriate approach. In

the event that a dispute is between a parent member and a staff member, the

Superintendent may ask other Board executives to get involved.

Article 10: Financial Records

10.1: Signing Authorities

The principal, the treasurer and the chair can be signing authorities. Two of three

signatures will be required on the account.

10.2: Disbursement and Allocation of Money

All money must be collected by the end of the year. Funds should be dispersed or

allocated to a specific purpose by the end of the year.

10.3: Annual Report

It is Council's responsibility to publish a financial statement when it files its year-end

report with the YRDSB.

Article 11: Agendas and Minutes

11.1: Agendas

- Agenda items should be submitted to the chair one week prior to the Council’s next

meeting.

- The chair will set the agenda with the principal, prior to the meeting.

11.2: Minutes

- Minutes shall be posted in the school prior to the next meeting of the Council.

- The minutes shall include motions, decisions and actions to be taken.

- Members of the Council must inform the chair or the secretary if they are going to be

absent from a Council meeting.

Article 12: Constitutional Amendments

- The School Council will review the constitution at least once every two years or as

the need arises.

- A sub-committee can perform the review and bring proposed amendments to the

School Council for voting.

- Amendments to the constitution must be presented to the Council, at a regularly

scheduled meeting.

- Constitutional amendments need a 2/3 majority to be passed.

References:

[1] York Region District School Board Policy #262.0 (School Councils)

http://www.yrdsb.ca/boarddocs/Documents/PP-schoolcouncils-262.pdf

[2] Ontario Regulation 612/00 (School Councils)

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_000612_e.htm#Top

or

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/council/council02.pdf

[3] Ontario Regulation 298, Amended to O. Reg. 613/00 (Operation of Schools – General)

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/council/council02.pdf

APPENDIX A

Code of Ethics

- A member shall consider the best interests of all students.

- A member shall be guided by the school’s and the school board’s mission statements.

- A member shall act within the limits of the roles and responsibilities of a school council, as

identified by the school’s operating guidelines, the school board, and the Ontario Ministry of

Education.

- A member shall become familiar with the school’s policies and operating practices and act in

accordance with them.

- A member shall maintain the highest standards of integrity.

- A member shall recognize and respect the personal integrity of each member of the school

community.

- A member shall treat all other members with respect and allow for diverse opinions to be shared

without interruption.

- A member shall encourage a positive environment in which individual contributions are encouraged

and valued.

- A member shall acknowledge democratic principles and accept the consensus of the council.

- A member shall respect the confidential nature of some school business and respect limitations this

may place on the operation of the school council.

- A member shall not disclose confidential information.

- A member shall limit discussions at school council meetings to matters of concern to the school

community as a whole.

- A member shall use established communication channels when questions or concerns arise.

- A member shall promote high standards of ethical practice within the school community.

- A member shall declare any conflict of interest.

- A member shall not accept any payment or benefit financially through school council involvement.

S

Source: Adapted from the bylaws of the Port Arthur Collegiate Institute School Council, Lakehead Board of Education, Thunder

Bay, Ontario.