Preamble

 

The Legacy School Council (LSC) is a collaborative, co-operative and advisory body whose objective, in partnership with the school’s community, is to help all LegacyPublic School students reach their greatest potential while achieving world class standards.  We believe that a wholesome environment, focused on our mission and values will lead our school’s community in the pursuit of excellence.  LegacySchool Council acts in accordance with Ontario Regulation 612/00, Education Act.

 

 

LegacySchool Council
Mission Statement

 

Consistent with the mission statements of Legacy Public School and the Board, the Mission of Legacy School Council is to assist in creating and nurturing an environment conducive to learning for all; to help encourage students to become self-directed, problem solvers and responsible members of the community; and to support inspiring and preparing learners for life in our changing world community.

 

 

LegacySchool Council
Values and Code of Ethics

 

Values:  Integrity, Honesty, Empathy, Open-mindedness, Just.

 

Code of Ethics -

A member shall:

• consider and act in the best interest of All Students of Legacy Public School;
• be guided by Council’s mission statement;  
• act within the limits of the roles and responsibilities of the school council, as identified by the Sections herein, the School’s operating guidelines, the Board and the Ministry of Education, Ontario;
• become familiar with Council’s Sections and Ontario Regulation 612/00, and act in accordance with them;
• maintain the highest standards of integrity;
• recognize and respect the personal integrity of each member of the school community;
• treat all persons attending the meetings with respect, embrace diversity and allow varying opinions to be shared without interruption;
• endeavour to help other members where possible;
• encourage a positive environment in which individual contributions are encouraged and valued;
• acknowledge democratic principles and accept the decision of Council;
• respect the laws regarding privacy, respect the confidential nature of some school business,  and respect the limitations this may place on the operation of the Council;
• not disclose confidential information or information that is governed by the Privacy Act;
• limit discussions at Council meetings to matters of concern to the school community as a whole;
• use established communication channels when questions or concerns arise;
• communicate based on fact;
• declare any conflict of interest;
• not accept any payment nor directly benefit financially as a result of the decisions of Council.

 

Section 1:  Name

 

LegacySchool Council

 

 

Section 2:  School Council Goals and Objectives

 

The purpose of the school council is, through active participation of parents, to improve student achievement of ALL students and to enhance the accountability of the education system to parents.  The school council's primary means of achieving its purpose is by making recommendation, in accordance with the Regulation 612/00, to the principal of the school and the board that established the school council.

 

The Council will operate and conduct itself within the school and the board policies, including Reg. 612/00, to advise the school principal and the board on the matters including, but not limited to the following:

1.       “The establishment or amendment of board policies and guidelines that relate to pupil achievement or to the accountability of the education system to parents” -

a.                   Conduct of persons in the school

b.                  Appropriate dress code for students

c.                   Develop selection criteria and placement of principal and vice-principal

d.                  Allocation of funding to school councils

e.                   Fundraising by school councils

f.                    Conflict resolution for internal school council disputes

g.                  Reimbursement of board expenses incurred by school council members;

h.                   Develop School improvement plan, monitor objectives are accomplished;

i.                     School-community communication and reporting;

j.                     Preparation of the school profile;

k.                   School budget priorities.

2.       “The development of implementation plans for new education initiatives that relate to pupil achievement or to the accountability of the education system to parents”.

3.       Board Action plans for the improvement based on the EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office) reports on results of tests.

4.       “The process and criteria applicable to the selection and placement of principals and vice-principals”.

In accordance with Reg. 612/00 s19, the school board shall solicit the views of the school council on matters related, but not limited, to the purpose of school council; consider Council’s recommendations; and report back to Council on how Council’s advise has been taken into account.

 

 

Section 3:  Non-profit Organization

 

a)                   Council will operate as a non-profit organization.

b)                  All fundraising activities must be in accordance with York Region District School Board’s (YRDSB) policy #676.0 School Fundraising.

c)                   At the earliest possible date in the term of the new Council, Council-sponsored fundraising activities must be coordinated with school-sponsored fundraising activities to avoid over-lap or duplicated efforts and to ensure a collaborative effort.  Thereafter, proposals for fundraising must be presented to Council at the earliest possible date.

d)                  Save and except lunch fundraisers (pizza, etc.), all fundraising activities endorsed by Council, on behalf of Council, must net Council no less than 40% of gross revenue.  Furthermore, the expected net of gross revenue for each fundraising activity must be disclosed.

e)                   Students and Parents must be given the option to directly participate in the fundraising activity or donate the expected net of gross revenue in lieu of direct participation (e.g. if the expected net of gross revenue for selling a box of chocolates of a $75 value is $30 or 40% net, parents will have the option to sell chocolates or donate the $30).

 

 

Section 4:  Membership and Structure of Council

 

Composition of Council (Council Members, maximum per group):

9 parents - 1vote per parent (the number of parents must always be in the majority in Council)

1 school principal – no entitlement

1 teacher representative – 1 vote

1 non-teaching staff representative - 1 vote

1 student representative (at the discretion of Council) - 1 vote

1 community representative – 1 vote

1 association representative – 1 vote

 

A minimum total number of 7 members shall comprise Council.

 

 

Section 5:  Election Procedures

 

5.1:  Election of Parent Members

 

a)                   A person is qualified to be a parent member of the school council if he or she is a parent of a pupil who is enrolled in the school.

b)                  Despite of a); a person is not qualified to be a parent member of the school council if he or she is employed at the school.

c)                   A person is qualified to vote in an election of parent members of the school council if he or she is a parent of a pupil who is currently enrolled in the school and that parent is in attendance at the meeting at the time of the election.

d)                   An election of parent members of the school council shall be held during the first 30 days of each school year, on a date that is fixed by the chair of the school council after consulting with the principal of the school.  Consultation to occur well in advance of published and/or distributed meeting notice.

e)                   The principal of the school shall, at least 14 days before the date of the election of the parent members, on behalf of the school council, give written notice of the date, time and location of the election to every parent of a pupil who, on the date the notice is given, is enrolled in the school.

The notice required by e) may be given by;

 

1)       giving the notice to the parent's child for delivery to his or her parent; and

2)       posting the notice in the school in a location that is accessible to parents.

 

f)                    The election of the parent members shall be by secret ballot.

g)                  If there is no acclamation, prior to the election of parent members to the positions of Chair, Vice-Chair (or Co-Chairs), Treasurer and Secretary, each candidate must provide up to 60 seconds of commentary about him or herself, as a candidate, to assist those qualified to vote in making an informed decision.

h)                   Only the names of the successful candidates shall be made public.  A list of candidates and the vote results will be kept on file at the school, on behalf of Council, for use in the event that a vacancy on Council occurs.

i)                     All individuals standing for election shall be notified of the results immediately after the election and before the results are released to the school’s community at large.

j)                     Once members are notified of the results of the election, the Chair will call upon members to volunteer as a specific representative of Council in accordance with Reg 612/00 and/or to chair committees decided by Council.

k)                   The school council shall help the principal ensure that the names and roles of the members of the new council are publicized to the school community within thirty days of the election.

 

 

5.2:  Parent Candidate Nomination form/Nomination Form Receipt

 

See Appendix A

 

 

5.3:  Other Elections

 

The elections of members of the school council referred in Section 4, shall be held during the first 30 days of each school year

 

 

Section 6:  Term of Office

 

The term of office as a member of the school council is 1 year.  A member of a school council may be re-elected.  No member can participate as a member of school council for more than 3 consecutive years

 

 

Section 7:  Vacancies

 

a)                   A vacancy in the membership of the school council shall be filled by election.

 

 

Section 8:  Officers of the School Council

 

a)         The school council shall have a chair.

b)                  The chair of the school council must be a parent member of the council and shall be elected during the first 30 days of each school year by the members of the council.

c)                   The person that is employed by the board can not be the school council chair.

d)                  The school council may have such other officers:  the Vice-Chair, the Treasurer.