A collaborative project by ASCA/ERLC/ARPDC as a result of a grant from Alberta Education to support implementation Alberta School Councils’ Association School Council Best Practices Webinar

ASCA Instructors for this Webinar SC Best Practices Webinar 2 Presenter Image and Bio All ASCA workshop Instructors are highly experienced individuals with an intense desire to assist parents and school councils in their roles of supporting and enhancing student achievement. In-house education and training complements the real-life learning each Instructor embarks upon in their day-to-day lives within their families and educational circles. Presenter Image and Bio Cheryl Low Larissa Bissett Lisa DicknerMarilyn Welsch Lynda Akers Michele Mulder Trina Boymook

To facilitate a discussion forum for school council members across Alberta to exchange ideas, identify challenges and share successes related to their school council roles and responsibilities. Objective: School Council Best Practices SC Best Practices Webinar 3

Four Areas of Focus (for today) Advise/Lobby/Decide: Who does what, when and with whom? Engaging Your School Community: Is there anybody out there? Fundraising: Who? What? Why? Where? When? and even How! School Council Governance: Rules? What rules?!? SC Best Practices Webinar 4

A. Northern Alberta B. Greater Edmonton Area C. Central Alberta D. Calgary and Southern Alberta E. Other Where are you? SC Best Practices Webinar 5

School Council Membership What best describes your role on your School Council? A.Parent B.Student C.Teacher C.Principal or Admin D.Community Member SC Best Practices Webinar 6

What is the purpose of School Council? What is the role of School Council? Setting the Stage SC Best Practices Webinar 7

Breakout rooms SC Best Practices Webinar 8 Advise/Lobby/Decide ??? Engaging Your School Community Fundraising $$$ School Council Governance

To move yourself to your breakout room: _________ Group stays in the main room. Click and drag your name to your break out room. SC Best Practices Webinar 9

Reminder of Objective: Advise/Lobby/Decide To facilitate a discussion forum for school council members across Alberta to exchange ideas, identify challenges and share successes related to their school council roles and responsibilities. SC Best Practices Webinar: A/L/D 1/8 10

Definition and/or interpretation of “advise” Advise/Lobby/Decide SC Best Practices Webinar: A/L/D 2/8 11

Provide some examples of when/how your School Council has advised their school or board Advise/Lobby/Decide SC Best Practices Webinar: A/L/D 3/8 12

Definition and/or interpretation of “lobby” Advise/Lobby/Decide SC Best Practices Webinar: A/L/D 4/8 13

Provide some examples of when/how your School Council has lobbied their school, board, Alberta Education or another group in the community Advise/Lobby/Decide SC Best Practices Webinar: A/L/D 5/8 14

As per the School Act and the School Councils Regulation, on which items is a school council authorized to “decide”? Advise/Lobby/Decide SC Best Practices Webinar: A/L/D 6/8 15

Provide some examples of when/how your School Council has made decisions from a school council perspective. Advise/Lobby/Decide SC Best Practices Webinar: A/L/D 7/8 16

Advise/Lobby/Decide Parking Lot SC Best Practices Webinar: A/L/D 8/8 17

Reminder of Objective: Fundraising To facilitate a discussion forum for school council members across Alberta to exchange ideas, identify challenges and share successes related to their school council roles and responsibilities. SC Best Practices Webinar: FR 1/8 18

What does Legislation say about School Councils and Fundraising? Fundraising SC Best Practices Webinar: FR 2/8 19

What concerns might there be of a School Council that chooses to fundraise? What are the benefits? Fundraising SC Best Practices Webinar: FR 3/8 20

What does Legislation say about groups other than School Councils becoming incorporated (as a Society) with a purpose of raising funds for (students in) a school? Fundraising SC Best Practices Webinar: FR 4/8 21

What are the similarities between the 2 groups? What are the differences? Fundraising SC Best Practices Webinar: FR 5/8 22

What challenges has your school council had in the area of fundraising? Fundraising SC Best Practices Webinar: FR 6/8 23

What successes has your school council had in the area of fundraising? Fundraising SC Best Practices Webinar: FR 7/8 24

Fundraising Parking Lot SC Best Practices Webinar: FR 8/8 25

Reminder of Objective: Engaging Your School Community To facilitate a discussion forum for school council members across Alberta to exchange ideas, identify challenges and share successes related to their school council roles and responsibilities. SC Best Practices Webinar: Engage 1/8 26

What does it mean to “be engaged”? Is it different than “being involved”? Engaging Your School Community SC Best Practices Webinar: Engage 2/8 27

Provide some examples of who makes up your school community Engaging Your School Community SC Best Practices Webinar: Engage 3/8 28

What is the value to having an “engaged” school community? Who benefits? Any examples? Engaging Your School Community SC Best Practices Webinar: Engage 4/8 29

What barriers has your school council run into while trying to engage your school community? Engaging Your School Community SC Best Practices Webinar: Engage 5/8 30

What has your school council done that has successfully engaged more members of your school community? Engaging Your School Community SC Best Practices Webinar: Engage 6/8 31

What are some of the ways that your school council, or school, recognizes the efforts and contributions of engaged school community members? Engaging Your School Community SC Best Practices Webinar: Engage 7/8 32

Engaging Your School Community Parking Lot SC Best Practices Webinar: Engage 8/8 33

Reminder of Objective: School Council Governance To facilitate a discussion forum for school council members across Alberta to exchange ideas, identify challenges and share successes related to their school council roles and responsibilities. SC Best Practices Webinar: Gov 1/8 34

What does Legislation say about School Council Governance? School Council Governance SC Best Practices Webinar: Gov 2/8 35

What are the benefits to a school council having a written document guiding the way in which their important work is conducted? School Council Governance SC Best Practices Webinar: Gov 3/8 36

Provide some examples of the types of documents used to guide the work of school councils. School Council Governance SC Best Practices Webinar: Gov 4/8 37

Mini-poll: What does your School Council use? School Council Governance SC Best Practices Webinar: Gov 4/8 38 A. Bylaws B. Operating Procedures C. Constitution D. Terms of Reference E. Other/Don’t Know

What makes each of these documents different? What are some of the challenges associated with the more ‘formal’ governance documents? School Council Governance SC Best Practices Webinar: Gov 5/8 39

What topics can, or should, be included within the governance document for a school council? School Council Governance SC Best Practices Webinar: Gov 6/8 40

School Council Governance SC Best Practices Webinar: Gov 7/8 41 Authority Purpose (Vision) Changes/Amendments Mission Objectives/Functions Membership Governance Models Quorum Decision Making Policies Meetings Agenda Communication Chairperson Positions and Descriptions Vacancies Committees Fundraising Code of Ethics Personal Information and Privacy Act (PIPA)

School Council Governance Parking Lot SC Best Practices Webinar: Gov 8/8 42

Sharing Collective Wisdom SC Best Practices Webinar 43

Top Two Tidbits SC Best Practices Webinar 44 Advise/Lobby/ Decide FundraisingEngaging Your School Community School Council Governance

Devote time, thought and study, to the role and responsibilities of a school council member so I can provide effective service to my council. Be familiar with school council policies and operating principles. Work with my fellow school council members in a spirit of harmony cooperation, and respect for differences of opinion. Promote positive and collaborative relationships on school council, between school council and the greater school community. Encourage parent participation in school council. Work with my fellow school council members to support the goals of the school’s education and improvement plans. Assist the school council to excel in all of its efforts and undertakings. Act as an advocate for excellence in education at the school and community levels. Declare any conflict of interest. Never disclose any confidential information I may have access to through other involvements at the school. Use the appropriate communication channels to address concerns CODE OF Conduct for SCHOOL COUNCIL MEMBERS SC Best Practices Webinar 45 Refer to Handout #1 – Code of Conduct & Code of Ethics

Additional Resources SC Best Practices Webinar 46 ASCA Website (templates, tip sheets and more!)  ASC Resource Manual  Alberta Education  Board Development  Corporate Registries  Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission  Refer to Handout #2 – Additional Resources

How Did We Do? You will be redirected to our online evaluation. Please take a minute to complete it. SC Best Practices Webinar 47