Council and PA: Quick Primer

This post is a quick summary of the work and structure of the School Council and the Parent Association.

There is a lot of understandable confusion about just what these organizations are and who comprises them.

I'll start with who because that's the simplest. We are parents. Easy as that, the two groups are made up of parents like you who have taken a keen interest in their children's education environment. We represent all of the parents in the school (through elections) and our collective desires in how the school's extra programming is run.

The structure of the two groups is quite simple as well. The PA is a group of volunteers who raise and spend money on school programming. The Council (click for more information from an earlier post) is an advisory group who works closely with the school administration and staff to discuss all matters within the school.

We have an Annual General Meeting (AGM) every September. During this special meeting we vote on the budget for the upcoming year and elect new executives - plan on joining us this year and becoming involved as a voter, volunteer or leader: it would be great to have you! Thursday, September 15th at 6:30 in the library.

Below is a partial list of past items that have been talked about, voted on, and funded at Council and Association meetings:

Hoja
Clay for Kids
Outdoor School
Busing fro Field Trips
Open Minds Museum
One World Drumming
Ice Cream Social
Mural in Tunnel
Piano and Other Musical Supplies
Science Equipment
School Sign
Murals in Gym
Owl Presentation

Decidedly Jass

U of C Archeology

Inline Skating Family Nigh

Agendas

Bird School

Alien Inline

Books in Library and Classrooms

Shelves For the Foyer

Gym Equipment

Playground and Repair

Artist in Residence

Swimming

Pancake Breakfast

CAPSC's next meeting

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009: 7:00 - 9:00 pm

'Conversation Cafe' (multiple small group
presentations) with the following topics:

- CBE's involvement at WorldSkills 2009
- CBE's new math curriculum
- New 'Walk Zones', bussing and
transportation planning, and school
accommodation issues
- Talk to a Trustee x 4

These meetings are always interesting and informative - and are worthwhile to attend. They're especially valuable to attend when a trustee is also there to speak to - the more parents who let our trustee, Carol Bazinet, know that we care for our school and don't want to see it leave the community, the better. (There are no details, however, as to which trustees will be there.)

Also, don't forget that the junior singers meet over the lunch hour tomorrow, and that the Inline Skating program is in full swing.

Edmonton AGM - April 24 - 26

We are still in need of volunteers willing to go to the ASCA AGM. The Alberta School Council Association represents parents to Alberta Education and gives us a direct voice to the government. We would like to have someone there to represent Haultain.

There are some seminars you are welcome to attend on the Saturday and the AGM itself where parents vote on issues is on the Sunday. Some seminar topics include:

1. School Council Operating Basics (should be of great interest to McKenzie Towne parents)
2. Respecting Diversity
3. Social Networking Sites
4. Internet Safety
5. Assistive Technology for Learning
6. and an Open Computer Lab (drop in)

Your expenses will be paid by the Association and you are welcome to bring your family with you. Everyone that I know who has gone has had a great time and met some interesting parents from around the province.

Please let me know if you are interested in representing us or want more information - scampsall@gmail.com.

Casino Funds? How Can They be Spent?

I spoke with Shane this morning about how to get a handle on the AGLC's (Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission) casino fund spending "allowables", as a follow-up to Steve's posting of our casino take. He filled me in on the following:

The HMPA has to submit a wish list each year and each year we receive a document outlining what on our list is allowable from AGLC. The AGLC provides a handbook, available here that details the guidelines that they use. It's a very comprehensive piece of reading.

Its pretty difficult to pin down a concrete list of things that are allowable, but as long as they are consistent with the community (society, association) values and goals, don't contravene the gambling license, and aren't illegal then we can spend it.

If there is an appetite for posting the items purchased in the past on this blog, we can make it happen. Please feel free to comment on this.

There are a good deal of caveats and codicils pertaining to the spending of casino funds. Please go through the document and bring some questions to the table - it will help everyone understand a little more about the process.

Having a good idea of what parents think is the most worthwhile use of casino funds is important - decisions can only be made from the council's frame of reference. Parent input is crucial, and welcomed. Generally, council listens to any and all suggestions and determines if they would be beneficial before dialogue can begin around casino funding eligibility.

School Council 101

This post is a quick and dirty summary of your council, a primer for your reference and for those who may be brand new to the idea. It's also a bit of an expansion of this earlier post.


What it is:
The Haultain Memorial School Council is an elected group of parents who volunteer their time to represent all the parents of the school. We sit with admin staff (the principal, the assistant principal, and at least one teacher) each month to discuss issues related to the school and our kids.

Members:
The elected list of parents includes; Steve - vice chair, Cheryl - secretary, Nick - Key Communicator, Monika - Volunteer Coordinator, Judith - Community Representative, and myself as Chair. All of these positions are held for a minimum of two years and then another election is called.

Meetings:
The format for the meetings is considered 'Town Hall' which means there are rules of order but it isn't exactly the court of law, there is lee-way expected and usually given but we can always fall back on proper 'order' if things get bogged down or out of control. We have a set of by-laws that govern our conduct - ask for them if you'd like to see the details.

We always have an update from Mr. Barkley regarding what he feels is important for us to know from his perspective and we have an opportunity to ask questions about anything that is going on at the school or the CBE in general.

We always have an update from me that usually concerns official correspondence, outbound and inbound, as well as news of the council.

After that we usually have reports from one or more of our members on their activities for the month.

We always have a new business part of the meetings that is meant to be an advisory opportunity for parents who can bring up questions, concerns, advice, new ideas and directions they feel are important for the principal to hear in a formal setting. This is the 'meat and bones' of our purpose. We are meant to be an advisory body that can help the administration to shape our school and its environment in a way that reflects our community. The more input here the better.

Attendance:
Ever since I have been involved with the Council, the most popular excuse reason I have heard from people for not attending is the meeting's length. With that in mind, we have started a new program with the intention of cutting down significantly on the length of the meetings. We have an electronic timer! People who have asked for a spot on the agenda are given a certain length of time and the timer is king. We have had great success with this method and have been able to 'hit the pub' much earlier than in previous 'un-timed' meetings.

Participation:
We are your representatives. We are speaking each month with you in mind. Its not always easy and we have to fill in the blanks as best we can but the bottom line is that 8-12 parents make important decisions each month regarding our school.

The very best way for you to make your voice heard and be informed about Haultain is to come to the meetings. But... I know that's not always possible. In today's age, time has become a currency that most people are very careful spending. With that in mind, there are other ways to participate. This blog is one of them - leave comments, visit often. Send me an email or give me a call to discuss whatever is on your mind. I will directly represent you at a meeting if you can't make it.

That is all for now, stay tuned for a similar post: "Parent Association - 101".

Shane

Parent Councils VS Parent Associations

When I first joined the Parent Council, I had trouble understanding the difference between the Council and the Association. They are two separate entities - with two different functions. I found this page on the CAPSC website which gives a great run down on the two. (They've identified "Association" as "Society").

Please read the article, and post your thoughts as a comment. Your feedback is always encouraged and welcome.

February Council Meeting

February's Council meeting took place in the Haultain library last night, and was well attended by Council members as well as a few parents. A strict agenda was adhered to, and a lot of important issues were discussed and resolved.

The unusual problem of finding items to spend council money on took up a fair amount of the proceedings - a problem unfortunately not shared by all Councils in Calgary. It's a good idea, if you have the time, to send an email with your thoughts and ideas of programs or items the Council can spend money on as soon as possible. There is a modest surplus which needs to be allotted before the end of March. Give Shane a call, comment beneath the articles you read, or email any of the council members if you have suggestions.

Parent involvement is crucial to ensure that hard-earned funds get allocated wisely. As well, parent involvement shows the CBE that parents with children attending Haultain consider the school to be a valuable resource, and an essential part of the Queensland community. The Board of Directors at the CBE takes parent involvement in schools as one of the indicators of school importance - when school populations decrease, and the decisions of which schools should be closed need to be made, that's one of the aspects that gets considered.

Get involved, and tell other parents to get involved. Commenting on this website, emailing your thoughts and feedback, offering information or photos to put on this blog - all great ways to show your commitment to keeping Haultain as a part of the community.