Schools
School Councils
The Simcoe County District School Board through its mission statement holds the belief that successful education requires active participation among the school, the home and the community, and the effective relationships between the education system and the communities are promoted through consultation, collaboration and open communication.
The Board believes that relationships between its schools and their communities can be strengthened through school councils. School councils in their advisory capacity, serve as an on-going mechanism for effective two-way communication and consultation between the school and the school community.
Click here for the Ministry of Education’s School Council Guide.
SCDSB Policy 4310 - School Councils
School Advocate
Increasing the availability of information and best practices, the School Advocate’s website helps to inform parents and promote the importance of parental involvement, within our publicly funded schools. Click here to access this website.
Board Policy
a) It is the policy of the Simcoe County District School Board, that each school in its jurisdiction provide for the establishment and operation of a school council. In accordance with the Ministry of Education (Reg. 612/00,613/00), the Board promotes the following objectives of school councils: positive attitudes toward the education of students in the school; effective two-way communication between home and school; effective approaches to consultative and collaborative relationships among home, school and community; and active parental participation to improve student achievement.
b) School Councils are advisory bodies comprised of elected parents, community representatives, teaching and non-teaching employees, students and the school principal. Through the active participation of parents, school councils work to improve student achievement and enhance the accountability of the education system to parents. School Council may provide advice to the school Principal and the school Board in a variety of areas, including curriculum goals, school action plans, student codes of behaviour and communication strategies. Elections take place in the first 30 days of each school year. Contact your school principal or a school council member for more detailed information.
System School Council Meetings
In order to facilitate communication among school councils and to strengthen connections with our community the Simcoe County District School Board's Parent Involvement Committee schedules a series of system School Council Meetings throughout the school year. The schedule of meetings begins with an Orientation Session for new council members.
These meetings serve as opportunities for information sharing and feedback on topics of particular interest to councils and the board. For more information, please contact the Principal or the School Council Chairperson.
Click here to view the SCDSB Meeting Calendar.
Additional Resources
School Councils often ask for other resources that describe their roles and functions. Please contact the school Principal to view a copy of the Ministry of Education School Council handbook which is a key resource currently available in schools. The Handbook also discusses ways to run effective meetings, promote parental involvement and assess council progress. For more information, please visit the Ministry of Education website or call 1-800-387-5574.
Fundraising and Financial Accountability: Presentation to School Councils Oct. 15, 2009
Click here to access the MEMBERS ONLY school council web site.