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| Article I - Name | Article II - Purpose | Article III - Membership | Article IV - Meetings |
| Article V - Officers | Article VI - Amendments | Article VII - Awards and Recognition |

Richview Collegiate - School Council Constitution

Article I - Name

Richview Collegiate Institute School Council, hereafter known as School Council, will operate within the parameters of the Education Act and Regulations, Ontario Regulations 612/00 and 613/00, and within the parameters of the Toronto District School Board, hereafter known as School Board, policies, strategic plan and agreements (including collective agreements). The School Council shall not be incorporated. The activities of the School Council shall be consistent with the site based planning activities within the school. The principal shall convey information regarding these parameters to the School Council.

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Article II - Purpose

1. The School Council is a non-profit body providing advice to the school and the School Board. There is no honorarium paid to its members.

2. The School Council supports Richview Collegiate's mission statement: "The mission of Richview Collegiate Institute, as a small, non-semestered school with a tradition of academic excellence, strong community ties, and a French Immersion component, is to graduate caring, self-motivated citizens prepared for university entrance, by offering academic and co-curricular programmes which develop skills and talents essential for individual success", or as amended.

3. The School Council will promote the best interests of the students and the school community by communicating regularly with students and/or their representatives, parents and other community members to seek their views and suggestions. Where applicable, the School Council will communicate with other School Councils, School Board, and the Province.

4. The School Council will provide suggestions and ideas to the Principal and, where appropriate, to the School Board, on matters such as the examples listed below:

  1. Methods to promote the best interests of the students and the school community within the school mission statement

  2. School calendar of events, including the school's extracurricular activities

  3. School code of student behaviour

  4. Priorities and goals re: curriculum and programme

  5. Responses to student achievement in Provincial or School Board assessment programmes

  6. Integration of the school plant and programmes with the community such as:

    • community use of school facilities

    • school-based community services

    • community partnerships

    • co-operative education

    • community youth programmes

  7. Advice to School Board re: criteria for the selection of a school Principal

  8. Priorities for the school budget and capital and improvement programmes

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Article III - Membership

  1. Members of Richview School Council will include:

    1. Parents/Guardians

      1. Any parent/guardian (including a foster parent) of a student at Richview Collegiate is eligible to hold a position on School Council

      2. Only one member of an immediate family may be a voting member of council

      3. School Board employees of Richview Collegiate are not eligible to run for School Council as a parent representative

      4. School Board employees who are employed outside Richview Collegiate are eligible to run for School Council as parent representatives, if they are parents or guardians of a student enrolled in the school

      5. A minimum of six and a maximum of fourteen parent/guardian representatives will be elected by parents and guardians of students currently enrolled in the school, such that they will form the majority of School Council

    2. Community Representatives

      The council will appoint a minimum of one and a maximum of two community representative(s). The representatives may be drawn from a local business, social agency or the community at large.

    3. Students

      There will be a minimum of one and a maximum of two student representatives appointed by Student Council.

    4. Principal

      The school principal will be a designated member of the School Council.

    5. Teachers

      A minimum of one and a maximum of two teachers will be elected by the members of the teaching staff of the school.

    6. Business and Support Staff

      1. Business and support staff members include: caretakers, educational assistants, lunch supervisors, community checkers and secretaries.

      2. One business and support staff member will be elected by the business and support staff of the school.

  2. Terms of Office

    1. All terms of office are for one year, with the exception of the principal, who will be a designated member.

    2. Elected and appointed members may seek additional terms of office.

  3. Elections

    1. Parental Representatives

      1. Elections for parent representatives shall occur within the first thirty days of the start of each school year at a school council meeting. The principal will provide 14 days advance notice of elections to the parent community.

      2. Interested, eligible candidates must complete a nomination form and submit to the school office by the posted deadline.

      3. In the event that the number of candidates is fourteen or less, the candidates will be acclaimed.

      4. In the event that the number of candidates is more than fourteen, a vote by secret ballot of parents present will be held.

    2. Teacher, Business & Support Staff and Student representatives must be elected within 30 days of the school year by their respective colleagues.

    3. Community representatives are appointed by School Council.

  4. Vacancies

    1. Vacancies occur:

      1. When positions of the School Council have not been filled after an election/selection, when a member resigns, or when a member is unable or unwilling to fulfil the roles and responsibilities required of all members.

      2. In the event of a vacancy, the Council may appoint a representative for that position for the rest of the term.

      3. Council members who fail to fulfil their duties may, after the involvement of a facilitator and with notice of motion, be removed by a two-thirds vote of the full School Council membership.

      4. Council members who are absent from three consecutive meetings may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the full School Council membership.

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    Article IV - Meetings

    1. There will be a minimum of four meetings each year with the first meeting held within the first 35 days of the school year on a date set by the principal.

    2. All meetings shall be open to the public and held in a location accessible to the public.

    3. The principal shall give written notice of the date, time and place of the meetings by posting a notice on the lighted notice board located outside the school.

    4. A meeting must have a majority of members present and within that group a majority of parents, in order to constitute a meeting quorum.

    5. The principal or designate must be in attendance in order to constitute a meeting.

    6. Decisions will be made, as much as possible, by consensus.

    7. In the event of a vote, the chair will only vote to break a tie.

    8. The principal or designate cannot vote.

    9. Any time the School Council does business with the potential for monetary gain/loss with any person agency or company, and a member of the school council has a vested interest in any way with that particular person, agency or company, that member shall declare a conflict of interest and shall not discuss or vote on any resolution relating to that matter. Any other potential conflict of interest must also be declared.

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    Article V - Officers

    1. Chair

      The chair must be a parent and will be elected annually by the entire School Council. The chair may be shared by two persons in which case they will be know as co-chairs.

      The chair of the School Council will:

      1. Call School Council meetings

      2. Prepare the agenda for meetings in consultation with the principal

      3. Chair the meetings

      4. Encourage consensus among School Council members

      5. Establish sub-committees on School Council when deemed advisable

      6. Ensure that the minutes of the meetings are recorded, maintained and accessible and prepare an annual report on the activities of School Council

      7. Ensure that regular communications with the school (staff, students, and support school) and the community are maintained

      8. In consultation with the Principal, shall be responsible for making any public statements on behalf of the School Council

    2. Principal

      The principal of the school will:

      1. Ensure that the school council is in place within 35 days of the start of the new school year.

      2. Attend all school council meetings or designate a vice principal to attend in their absence.

      3. Act as an important source of information to the School Council on laws, regulations, School Board policies, and collective agreements.

      4. Consult with School Council on mandatory areas of consultation and such matters as they wish. The principal will receiving and respond to school council recommendations as required

      5. Assist the chair in the preparation of an agenda for each meeting and ensures that a copy of the annual report is sent to the School Board, as required.

    3. Secretary

      The secretary shall take, keep and arrange for the distribution of minutes of each meeting, be responsible for all correspondence, and assume other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

    4. Treasurer

      A treasurer will be appointed to record all financial transactions and to report to School Council any expenses and balances as the need arises. Monies left at the end of the school year from the School Council's budget will be allocated as decided by School Council.

    5. Sub-Committees

      The School Council may create a sub-committee to deal with any matter it deems necessary

      1. Terms of Reference

        The School Council will establish specific terms of reference for each sub-committee created. The terms of reference may include the purpose of the sub-committee, responsibilities, objectives, membership, duration, frequency of meetings.

      2. Sub-committee Chair

        A school council member shall assume the responsibility of sub-committee chair. The chair shall preside at all committee meetings and shall report regularly to the School Council on the progress of the sub-committee and report recommendations for consideration by the School Council.

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    Article VI - Amendments to Constitution

    1. A proposed change or addition to the constitution of School Council must be submitted in writing to the Chair at least two weeks prior to a scheduled meeting and be put on the agenda for the meeting.

    2. A two-thirds majority of the School Council must approve, either in person or in writing, the motion for the change or addition to the constitution.

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    Article VII - Awards and Recognition

    1. School Council Award

      To be given to a graduating female and male student who have consistently demonstrated a positive attitude and have actively participated in school and/or community activities and events for the betterment of the students and/or community. Preference will be given to those students who are not receiving any other award in the current academic year. The monetary value of the award will be $100 per recipient.

    2. School Council Rep(s) Award

      Those students who serve on School Council as student representatives will be awarded a $25 gift certificate for the purchase of books at a bookstore. The award will be presented at the end of the school year at the Awards Assembly.

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| Article I - Name | Article II - Purpose | Article III - Membership | Article IV - Meetings |
| Article V - Officers | Article VI - Amendments | Article VII - Awards and Recognition |
[ RCI Parents Index | Calendar of Events | 2002-2003 Schedule | MAIN RCI INDEX ]