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CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL

CONSTITUTION

School:_______________

Principal: _____________

Revision Dates

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YCDSB CONSTITUTION

Table of Contents

Preamble 3

Article I - NAME 3

Article II - COUNCIL GOALS 3

Article III - COMPOSITION 4

Article IV - OFFICERS 6

SECTION I - STRUCTURE OF COUNCIL 6

1.1 Elections 6

1.2 Term of Office 7

1.3 Meetings 7

1.4 Quorum 8

1.5 Voting and Decision Making 8

1.6 Vacancies 8

1.7 Attendance 8

1.8 Consultation 9

1.9 Consultation by the Board 9

1.10 Minutes and Financial Records 9

1.11 Annual “Year-End” Report 9

SECTION II - DUTIES OF OFFICERS 9

2.1 Chair/Co-chair 9

2.2 Secretary 10

2.3 Treasurer 10

2.4 Principal 11

2.5 Council Members 11

SECTION III - COMMITTEES 12

BY-LAWS

SECTION IV - CONFLICT OF INTEREST & CONFLICT RESOLUTION 12

SECTION V - FUNDS 12

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YCDSB CONSTITUTION

SECTION VI - EXPENDITURES 12

SECTION VII - AUDITORS 13

SECTION VIII - REMUNERATION 13

SECTION IX - DISSOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL 13

SECTION X- AMENDMENTS 13

APPENDIX “A”

Notice of Election 14

Nomination Form 15

All York Catholic District Schools are expected to review the Constitution at the first meeting after

Catholic School Council elections.

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YCDSB CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE

The education of our children is a shared responsibility which involves the schools, students and their

families and the Church. The main goal of Catholic School Council is to “promote the best

interests of the School Community”. This Constitution and the following By-laws are drafted in

accordance with the Education Act and Regulations.

The Catholic School Council operating as an advisory council will strive to provide an

opportunity to build community, strengthen the home/school/parish partnership and work together as

a community of believers committed to putting the values of our faith into practice in the education of

our children.

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this Catholic School Council is the Catholic School Council,

hereinafter referred to as the “Council”.

ARTICLE II - COUNCIL GOALS

The purpose of school councils is, through active participation of parents, to improve pupil

achievement and to enhance the accountability of the education system to parents [O.Reg. 612/00, S.

2(1)].

A school council’s primary means of achieving its purpose is by making recommendations in

accordance with Ontario Regulation 612/00 to the principal of the school and the Board that

established the council [O. Reg. 612/00, s. 2(2)].

Council members are to maintain a school-wide focus on all issues. Council meetings are not a forum

of discussion about individual parents, students, staff, Trustees or other council members.

The Council will work within the policies, mission statement and goals of the school, the York

Catholic District School Board (Board), hereinafter referred to as the “Board”, and the Education Act

and Regulations. Council is an advisory body. The Council will provide advice to the school principal,

and where appropriate, to the school board on matters such as:

● development/promotion of faith community;

● local school calendar of events;

● school code of conduct behaviour;

● student dress code;

● recruitment of school volunteers;

● parent engagement opportunities;

● curriculum and program goals and priorities;

● the process and criteria applicable to the selection and placement of principals and

vice-principals;

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YCDSB CONSTITUTION

● school budget priorities, including local capital-improvement plans;

● school-community communication strategies;

● school-based services and community partnerships related to social, health, recreational and

nutrition programs;

● local co-ordination of services for children and youth;

● development, implementation, and review of board policies at the local level;

● learning partnerships;

● corporate sponsorships within the parameters established by the Board.

ARTICLE III - COMPOSITION

SCHOOL COUNCIL

(a) All members on a Council are valued and equal partners. Each elected or appointed member

receives one vote.

(i) The principal does not participate in votes taken by the school council or by a

committee of the school council.

(ii) If more than one Parish Representative is designated from the affiliated Parishes, it must be

understood that only one vote is allocated to this position.

(b) The Board encourages all Councils to have student representation.

(c) A school council shall be composed of the following people:

(i) Parent members shall be elected by Parents and Guardians of students enrolled in the

school;

(ii) In the case of a school with one or more secondary school grades, one pupil enrolled in the

school who is appointed by the student council, if the school has a student council, or one

pupil enrolled in the school who is elected in accordance with section 5 of Ontario

Regulation 612/00, if the school does not have a student council. In the case of a school

with no secondary school grades, one pupil enrolled in the school who is appointed by the

principal of the school, if the principal determines, after consulting with other members of

the school council, that the council should include a pupil.

(iii) One teacher who is employed at the school, other than the principal or vice-principal.

(iv) One person who is employed at the school, other than the principal, vice-principal or any

other teacher (i.e.: Secretaries, Custodian Educational Assistants, Educational Intervenors,

Designated Early Childhood Educators, Lunchtime Supervisors, Office Support Workers);

(v) One School Community representative shall be appointed by the Catholic School Council;

(vi) One person appointed by an association that is a member of the Ontario Federation of

Home and School Associations, the Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education or

Parent Partenaires en Education, if the association that is a member of the Ontario

Federation of Home and School Associations, the Ontario Association of Parents in

Catholic Education or Parent Partenaires en Education is established in respect of the

school.

(vii) Parish Representative(s) designated by the Parish or Parishes affiliated with the school;

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