School Planning Council Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions are a summary of some of the issues
and questions that were raised at recent planning sessions. In
some cases the answer is clear; in other cases it will be a
school based decision. The By-Laws (as well as the
Legislation) will serve as the overall guiding structure but
schools( principals, teachers and parents) must work out
details that work for their school environment.
For further information please go to the VSB website: and
click into Schools and the School Growth.
How do we ensure diversity (ethnic, FrenchEnglish etc) on our
School Planning Council?
This will be a school based decision. The important thing is
for parents, administration, teachers and students to discuss
this issue and identify a strategystrategies for the school.
This should be reviewed annually. Each school will do it a bit
differently and schools will use a variety of methods to
ensure all parents receive information and feel welcome.
Can both parents sit on SPC? What about Guardians?
There is nothing in legislation preventing both parents from
sitting on the SPC. Common sense might dictate otherwise in
most cases.
Legal guardians have the same rights as parents and could sit
on the SPC.
If a school isn t able to encourage participation what can be
done?
In Section 8.1 (5) of Bill 34 - the School Amendment Act A
board may appoint a person to fill a vacancy on a School
Planning Council if (1)there is no Parent Advisory Council (2)
the PAC does not elect three representatives (3) the teachers
at the school do not elect a representative. According to our
By Laws the principal in consultation with the parents or the
Parent Advisory Council, shall make recommendations to the
school board by December 1 of each year.
How do we handle the need for interpreters?
Catherine Eddy the supervisor at the Reception Centre is
currently recruiting parents volunteers to assist with the
involvement of parents of different ethnic backgrounds. This
is being done in partnership with DPAC and is a component of
the Parent Leadership District Direction.
How do we ensure that the parents represent the interests of
all parents?
Establishing criteria for membership and communication of
expectations is very important prior to the nomination and
election process. By building in a process for communication
with parent groups and an expectation that the parents must
report to and represent the PAC their role will be more
clearly defined.
Are there district funds available to support SPC processes?
No there is no money to support the ongoing work of the SPC.
The District has set aside some money for training in this
first year as it is a transition year.
Will teachers be participating?
The teacher associations are currently meeting to make
recommendations on the conditions of their participation. The
Vancouver Secondary Teachers have recommended participating.
Representatives from the secondary and elementary teachers
associations participated in the drafting of and approved the
VSB School Planning Council By- Laws.
What is the relationship between the SPC and the PAC?
Members of the SPC will have critical relationships with all
school based committees.
Parents through their PAC will elect three members to the SPC.
The PAC will determine the processes of nominations and
elections and one of the PAC Executive will serve on the SPC.
Members of SPC are expected to represent the views of their
constituent groups and in that role must attend meetings of
their PAC (parents)or staff meetings (teachers) and student
council (in the case of students at the secondary level). They
must seek feedback from the group as well as bring forward
issues prior to SPC approval.
What is the role of parents on the SPC?
Parents must represent their PAC and be the voice of all
parents. They must follow the legislation, the By Laws and any
codes of behaviour agreed upon by the SPC.
Will there be training?
Training sessions are planned in January that will focus on
consensus ( What is it? How do you achieve it?), effective
communication strategies, data (What is it and how do we
collect it?), effective dialogue, and School Growth Plans.
What is the Board Policy re insurance coverage for child care?
This issue is currently being discussed. At the moment there
is no coverage.
Is there liability for parents on the SPC ie if they do not
include "bully proofing" in Growth Plan and it was a problem
at the school?
No, there is no liability. The administrator is responsible
for the implementation of the School Growth Plan. Once the
plan is approved liability rests with the Board.
Are SPC Open?
Membership on the SPC is predetermined by Legislation.
Currently it is 5 members, 1 principal (vice principal), 1
teacher, 3 parents. Vancouver has included students but until
the legislation is changed they have no vote. Principals, as
the chair, can invite others to participate but guests do not
have a vote. Alternates may attend but they do not have a vote
if the regular member is there. Any one who wishes to attend
does so at the invitation of the chair.
Is there a process to remove a member of the SPC?
In the VSB School Planning Council By-Laws section 11.5 a
complaint about the functioning of the School Planning Council
should be made to the Council through its chair. If the
complaint is not resolved , the complainant may address the
complaint to the District Liaison Officer and as stated in
11.6 if following an investigation, a member of a School
Planning Council has been found guilty of misconduct,
including but not limited to breach of confidentiality, the
school Board may either discharge the member and request that
a new member be elected, or may appoint a new member if
elections are not feasible. Before making such a decision, the
School Board shall ensure that the member has had the
opportunity to respond to the allegations by written
submission and oral if School Board agrees.
SPCs may wish to establish a process but this process must not
contradict the By-Laws.
What is the term for elected members?
SPC members are elected for a one year term. They may seek
re-election for a new term.
Can 3 people for PAC serve on the SPC?
One of the three parent reps on the SPC must be on the
PAC Executive. All parents represent the PAC who are all
parents at the school. There is nothing to prohibit all
three members also serving on the PAC Executive.
If only three people put their name forward is it
necessary to have a secret ballot?
No if there are only three names put forward they can be
declared elected by acclamation. However, there should be
a public process and selection meeting as there may be
further nominations from the floor.
What we expect is a reasonable interpretation of the
By-Laws. There is a strong possibility that teachers will
designate a VESTA representative and this will also be,
therefore, by acclamation.
What will happen to the continuity of the Growth Plan
if it is rejected in June and cannot be modified until
next school year.
The June 30 date is currently being revised.
It does not say in the SPC By Laws that one parent must
be an on the PAC Executive. It only says this in PAC By
Laws. Shouldn t they be aligned?
Yes. This should be included in SPC By Laws. It is in
Bill 34 Section 8.1 (3) and, while Bill 34 is the
legislation we must adhere to, it is our intention to
ensure all aspects of Bill 34 are represented in our By
Laws.
Do we have any right to reject any part of these
By-Laws?
No
Can we ask for changes?
Absolutely
What if the SPC has a different Growth Plan than staff? What
then?
Hopefully the SPC has a process for resolution of dispute or
disagreement. If a resolution cannot be reached it is
important to contact the District Liaison Officer early in the
process in order to facilitate a resolution.
The School Plan must be submitted by the School Planing
Council, therefore, the SPC must have a process for a decision
to be made. Our By Laws currently say the decision will be
made by a majority vote.
The School Board may request modifications andor reject the
School Plan (with reasons to the School Planning Council)
What happens when the Growth Plan is rejected?
The Board may approve, approve with modifications or reject a
School Plan. The Board may direct the principal of a school to
prepare and submit to the board a school plan for the school
by a specified date if the School Planning Council does not
submit a school plan, the school planning council does not
comply with a direction of the board, or the board rejects the
school plan.
Whatever School Plan is eventually approved, it must be made
available to all parents at the school.
When do SPC meet?
We don't want to alienate anyone because they work.
Schools must come to some agreement with their school
community (teachers, parents). Each school will develop a
model unique to their environment.
If teachers opt out are SPC really valid?
Our By Laws allow for SPC to continue with out the
participation of teachers.
A board may appoint a teacher if the teachers at the school do
not elect a representative.
Where there is no representation from a group (teachers or
parents) on the School Planning Councils quorum shall be the
principal (or vice principal alternate) and two members.
Ideally all members of the school community (teachers,
parents, principal and secondary students) should be active
participants.
What is the criteria for approval of a School Growth Plan?
In approving a School Growth Plan the following criteria are
important:
goals must be aligned with the accountability contract and
District Directions
goals must focus on improving student achievement
goals must be based on evidence
goals should reflect the uniqueness of the school community
context
goals must be arrived at by reasonable consensus
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