Notice of Election and Call for Nominations

School Council Elections

Notice of election and call for nominations

What is a school council and what does it do?

All government schools in Victoria have a school council. They are legally formed bodies that are given powers to set the key directions of a school within centrally provided guidelines. In doing this, a school council is able to directly influence the quality of education that the school provides for its students.

Who is on the school council?

There are three possible categories of membership:

• A mandated elected Parent category. More than one third of the total members must be

from this category. Department of Education (DET) employees can be Parent members at their child’s school as long as they are not employed at the school.

• A mandated elected DET employee category. Members of this category may make up no more than one third of the total membership of school council. The principal of the school is automatically one of these members.

• An optional Community member category. Its members are appointed by a decision of the council because of their special skills, interests or experiences. DET employees are not eligible to be Community members.

The term of office for all members is two years. Half the members must retire each year,

creating vacancies for the annual school council elections.

Why is Parent membership so important?

Parents on school councils provide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help shape the direction of the school. Those parents who become active on a school council find their involvement satisfying in itself and may also find that their children feel a greater sense of belonging.

How can you become involved?

The most obvious way is to vote in the elections, which are held in Term 1 each year. However, ballots are only held if more people nominate as candidates than there are positions vacant.

In view of this, you might seriously consider

• standing for election as a member of the school council

• encouraging another person to stand for election.

Do I need special experience to be on school council?

No. What you do need is an interest in your child’s school and the desire to work in partnership with others to help shape the school’s future.

What do you need to do to stand for election?

If you decide to stand for election, you can arrange for someone to nominate you as a

candidate or you can nominate yourself in the Parent category.

DET employees whose child is enrolled in a school in which they are not employed are eligible to nominate as parents for the school council where their child is enrolled

Once the nomination form is completed, return it to the principal within the time stated on

the notice of election. You will receive a Nomination Form Receipt in the mail following the receipt of your completed nomination.

If there are more nominations received than there are vacancies on council, a ballot will be conducted during the two weeks after the call for nominations has closed.

Notice of election and call for nominations

An election is to be conducted for members of the School Council of Craigieburn Primary School. Nomination forms may be obtained from the school office.

• Closing date for nominations is: Friday 16 February by 4pm

• If required, the date by which the list of candidates and nominators will be posted is: Tuesday 20 February 2024

• If required, the date by which ballot papers will be prepared and distributed is on or

Before: Tuesday 27 February 2024

• If required, the ballot will close at 4 pm on: Tuesday 5th March 2024

The terms of office, membership categories and number of positions in each membership

category open for election are as follows:

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY TERM OF OFFICE NUMBER OF POSITIONS

Parent member 2 years 5

DET employee member

2 years 1

Community Member

1 year 1

Bernadette Pizaro

Principal