Participating as a school council member is a rewarding and challenging experience. The Council is responsible for setting and communicating policies and direction in relation to local curriculum issues, resources allocation, the cash budget, maintenance and improvements to buildings, grounds and facilities and reporting to the College community.
Membership
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. 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 College Council meets twice each term during the school year. The composition of Montague School Council is:
- Four parent members
- Two school employees
- Two students
- Four community nominees
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.
Current school council members
Chris BeldenCouncil President | David CasasExecutive Officer | Tracey FentonTreasurer | Soturia HatzipanagiotouDepartment Member (Staff) |
Damean PosnerParent Member | Cynthia BartoloParent Member | Hamish LettStudent Member | Hugo BuddenStudent Member |
Clare GleesonParent Member | VacantParent Member | Steve KearneyCommunity Member | VacantCommunity Member |
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?
- 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.
Committees
The Council operates through a Committee system as a means of carrying out its various functions. These Committees are made up of Councillors and seconded members with membership reflecting parent, teacher and student views in any policy developments and recommendations that are made to Council.
The following Committees operate at Montague School:
- Finance & Facilities
- Consultative
If you would like to know more about the College Council, please contact the school Principal.
