School Council vs. School Society
Hillhurst School Council and Society
General Meeting
Wednesday November 13, 2013
What is a “School Council”?
• It is a collective association of parents, teachers, secondary
students, principal, staff and community representative(s)
whose purpose is to advise the principal and the board
respecting matters relating to the school.
• It is a means for parents and community members to work
together with the school to support and enhance student
learning.
• Does not require bylaws because is not permitted to
incorporate
School Councils Regulation AR 113/2007 states:
No school council shall incorporate under the Societies Act or
Part 9 of the Companies Act.
• It is regulated by the School Act in Alberta.
• May or may not have a bank account - there are no bank
accounts in the name of Hillhurst School Council
What is a School Council? Cont.
School Council Functions include:
• consulting with the principal so he or she can ensure students
have opportunities to meet Ministry standards, fiscal
management is sound and the community‘s expectations are
taken into consideration during school-based planning
• advising the principal and the school board/charter board
• being involved in school-based planning
• sharing ideas and information with other school councils and
provincial organizations
• communicating information to the school community and
other school councils
• setting policies that relate to school council functions
School Council Decision Making
Authority
• The principal, is the key educational leader at the school level
and who holds responsibility for directing the management of
the day-to-day operations of the school.
• The actual decision-making authority of the school council, as
a whole, is limited to:
a) developing policies at the school level, as described in
the School Act,
b) planning support activities that align with school
council‘s purpose and
c) choosing what advice to provide the principal and
board on relevant topics.
2013-2014 School Council
Executive Members
Principal – David B
Chair – Kirsten B
Vice Chair – Laura S
Teacher – Bruce R
Community Representative – Erin G
GATE Representative – Pat R & Michelle I
Secretary – Pam W & Birgitte G
Treasurer – Nancy J
2013-2014 School Council
General Members
School Councils Regulation AR 113/2007 states:
“A school council must include the following members:
(a) the principal of the school;
(b) at least one person who is a teacher at the school, elected or
appointed by the teachers at the school;
(c) if the school includes a senior high school program, at least
one person who is a student enrolled in the high school, elected
or appointed by the students enrolled in the high school;
(d) subject to section 22(2) of the Act, parents of students
enrolled in the school. “
What is the Hillhurst (Elementary)
Community School Society?
The Hillhurst (Elementary) Community School Society:
• was incorporated on September 23, 1996
• became a registered charity under the Income Tax Act on
September 1, 2012
• is regulated by the Societies Act in Alberta
• is governed by bylaws dated August 2012
• holds a Casino Licence from the Alberta Gaming and Liquor
Commission (AGLC)
• has two bank accounts – general & casino
What is the Hillhurst (Elementary)
Community School Society? Cont.
The School Society objectives are:
a) To advance the education of students attending Hillhurst
School by:
i. purchasing educational supplies and equipment to be
used by the students and staff;
ii. funding extracurricular activities and other programs
to enhance the educational experience of students;
and
iii. funding and maintaining outdoor school facilities.
b) To carry out activities that are ancillary and incidental to
the attainment of the above purpose.
Hillhurst (Elementary) School Society
Decision Making Authority
• Societies have all governing, management and
implementation authority granted through the Societies Act
or Part 9 of the Companies Act.
• Society Amended Bylaws August 2012 state:
“Voting
8. Any member who has not withdrawn from membership
nor has been suspended nor expelled as herein provided shall
have the right to vote at any meeting of the society. Such
votes must be made in person and not by proxy or otherwise.
Votes are taken by show of hands. A simple majority vote
carries a motion unless it is a special resolution as called for
by the Societies Act when a 75% majority of votes cast is
required.”
Hillhurst (Elementary) School Society
Decision Making Authority Cont.
• Society Amended Bylaws August 2012 state:
“Board of Directors
10. The Board shall, subject to the by-laws or directions given
it by majority vote at any meeting properly called and
constituted, have full control and management of the affairs
of the society, and meetings of the Board shall be held as
often as may be required, but at least once a year, and shall
be called by the President.”
2013-2014 School Society
Executive Members/Board of Directors
President – Kirsten B
Vice President – Laura S
Secretary – Pam W
Treasurer – Nancy J
Director – Iris K
Director – Maria L
Director – Pat R
2013-2014 School Society
General Members
Society Amended Bylaws August 2012 state:
“Membership:
1. Any person being a parent or legal guardian of a student
attending Hillhurst Community School,
being the full age of 18 years, is a voting member of the society.“
Council vs. Society - Going Forward
• Hillhurst School Council and Society Re-defined – What
exactly is under the umbrella of our School Council? What
exactly is under the umbrella of our Society?
• As a School Council we need to consider what we are doing
and what we could be doing
• Meetings – can be held on the same night but must be stand
alone start to finish agendas
• Minutes – must be clearly recorded separately
• Agenda items – need to determine which meeting agenda
they will reside in based on the definition of a School Council
or a School Society
• Principal - Need to decide if principal should attend School
Society Meetings.