SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTIONS – STUDENT MEMBER CATEGORY
From 2018, all Victorian government schools with a year 7 cohort and above, will have a mandated Student member category on their school council. The Department has increased how many people each school council can have to allow for two student members to be elected to council.
Why is student membership so important?
Students have a unique perspective on learning, teaching and schooling and having student members on school council allows students to have a say in the future direction of their school and ensures student input into decision making. Student representation on secondary school councils will assist in the development of students’ skills, including leadership skills, and communication skills.
Do I need special experience to be on school council?
Each member brings their own valuable skills and knowledge to the role however, councillors may need to develop skills and acquire knowledge in areas that are unfamiliar to them in order to perform their duties as a councillor.
What is a school council and what does it do?
All government schools in Victoria have a school council. School councils are legal entities that are given powers to set the key directions of a school within state-wide guidelines. In doing this, a school council is able to directly influence the quality of education that the school provides for its students.
School councils have three main responsibilities:
- Finance: overseeing the development and expenditure of the school’s annual budget and ensuring proper records are kept of the school’s financial operation.
- Strategic planning: participating in the development and monitoring of the school strategic plan.
- Policy development and review: developing, reviewing and updating policies that reflect a school’s values and support the school’s broad direction outlined in its strategic plan.
Other key functions of school councils may include:
- Raising funds for school related purposes
- Maintaining school grounds and facilities
- Entering into contracts
- Reporting annually to the school community and the department
- Creating interest in the school in the wider community
- Representing and taking the views of the community into account
- Regulating and facilitating after-hours use of school premises and grounds
- Operating a children’s service at the school.
What do I do if I want to be on school council?
Firstly you must be nominated. You can either do this yourself using the Self nomination form for student member of school council or you can have someone else nominate you using the Nomination form for student member of school council. Both of these forms can be downloaded below. If more than two students nominate then there will have to be an election
How can I find out more information?
There are Fact Sheets available below for both students and parents or you can ask your TTL or your Assistant Principal
SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTION PROCESS AND TIMETABLE
Name of the School: KEYSBOROUGH COLLEGE
| EVENT | DATE |
| a) Notice of election and call for nominations | Mon 14th May 2018 |
| b) Closing date for nominations | Mon 21st May 2018 |
| c) Date by which the list of candidates and nominators will be posted | Wed 23rd May 2018 |
| d) Date by which parent ballot papers will be prepared and distributed | On or before Mon 28th May 2018 |
| e) Close of ballot | Mon 4th June 2018 |
| f) Vote count | Tue 5th June 2018 |
| g) Declaration of poll |
Wed 6th June 2018 |
FACT SHEETS & NOMINATION FORMS
Fact sheet: Info about nominating and voting (PDF)
Fact sheet: Info for parents (PDF)
Fact sheet: Info for students (PDF)
Self-nomination form for student member of school council (PDF)