SCHOOL COUNCIL

Being a member of Footscray West Primary School Council is a rewarding way to be involved with the school and the community.

All Government schools in Victoria have a School Council. School Councils are legal entities with responsibility for:

• Developing the school's Strategic Plan
• Approving the Annual Budget
• Setting and Reviewing policies

School Councils do not manage the day to day running of the school. That job is reserved for the Principal.

Further information on the role of School Councils (pdf 42kb)

All parents are welcome to attend School Council or sub-committee meetings, but only elected members are eligible to vote. Times and dates of upcoming meetings are available in the weekly Newsletter, the Calendar, or by contacting the office.

Membership
School Council is required to have between six and fifteen members. At Footscray West this includes five office bearers:

• President
• Vice President
• Executive Officer
• Treasurer
• Minute Secretary

Members consist of parents and Department of Education and Early Childhood Education (DEECD) employees. More than a third of members must be parents. There is also an option to co-opt two members from the wider community who may have skills or experience of value to the school.

Sub-committees
Footscray West Primary School Council has five Sub-committees:

• Policy and Planning
• Buildings and Grounds
• Fundraising
• PR & Communications
• Parents and Friends

Councillors are expected to join at least one sub-committee.

Elections are held at the start of each year. Each sitting member serves a term of two years, enabling half the membership to come up for election each year. Notification of upcoming elections is made in the Newsletter.
Prospective councillors must complete and return a nomination form to the Principal within seven days of a notice of election being posted. If more nominations are received than there are vacancies a ballot will be conducted two weeks after the call for nominations has closed.

Contact the office for further information or if you wish to stand for election. Further details about School Councils are available from DEECD, or you can contact the office and make an appointment to speak with the School Council President or the Principal.

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