Operating Guidelines
· 7 April 2007, 20:12
The current version of the Operating Guidelines for the Ward 10 Council
Revision History
- November 2004: Original
- April 2007: Proposed additions and
deletions(Accepted at the April 2007 council meeting)
TRINITY SPADINA WARD COUNCIL
Membership
Membership is taken from the following 32 downtown Toronto Schools and falls within the boundaries of University Avenue (East) & Dovercourt Road (West), Dupont Avenue/CPR tracks (North) & the Waterfront (South).
Elementary
Alpha Alternative School Jr & Sr, Beverley Street Jr, Charles G. Fraser Jr , Clinton Street Jr , Da Vinci Alternative, Dewson Street Jr , Essex Jr & Sr, Givins/Shaw Jr, Hawthorne II Bilingual Alternative School, Huron Street Jr, Kensington Community School Jr, Horizon Alternative School Sr, King Edward Jr & Sr, Lord Lansdowne Jr & Sr, Montrose Jr, Delta Alternative School Sr, Niagara Street Jr, Ogden Jr, Orde Street Jr, Ossington/Old Orchard Jr, Palmerston Avenue Jr, Ryerson Jr & Sr, The Waterfront School.
Secondary
Central Commerce C.I., Central Technical School, City School, Contact Alternative, West End Alternative, Harbord C.I., Heydon Park S.S., Oasis Alternative SS, Subway Academy II.
Mandate
- To act as a forum for local community consultation and provide input on educational policies, practices, and needs;
- To provide an opportunity for the Trustee to report on relevant matters under consideration by the board and to receive feedback from Ward Council constituents;
- Superintendents will act as Resource Persons, (based on availability) to address school community concerns and share information.
- To facilitate communication with parents from across the province, secondary school students, School Trustees, the Toronto District School Board, Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP’s), the Ministry of Education and Training, and other organizations concerned with educational matters about issues of common concern; (e.g. setting time on agenda for parent organizations)
- To provide representatives to TDSB recognized advocacy organizations such as the French as a Second Language Community Liason Group (FSLCLG) and The Parent Community Network.
- To protect the interests of all students and programs by ensuring the public education system has sufficient resources to promote excellence and achievement in our schools;
- To provide an opportunity for both secondary & elementary schools within the ward to share formation regarding school programs, funding, staffing, organization, and other concerns; (Note: Meeting agenda should reflect opportunity for elementary & secondary issues to be addressed)
Meetings
- Meetings will be held once a month on an agreed upon date and location.
- Host school will have an opportunity make a brief (15 minute) presentation
- Monthly meetings are open to any parent/guardian or community member wishes to attend.
- A host school should be selected at each meeting for the next scheduled meeting
- Meetings will typically start at 7:00PM and should be 1 ½ to 2 hours duration.
- When possible meetings should alternate through week nights (Monday through Thursday) in order to accommodate the schedules of council members.
- Meetings will be co-chaired by a steering committee member and a representative from the host school
- Whenever possible, meetings should be scheduled in advance of Board committee meetings and the monthly Board meeting to ensure that sufficient information is available to Ward Council Representatives, in order to facilitate meaningful discussion and feedback to the Trustee
- Childcare will be provided when requested of the trustee’s office.
Steering Committee
- Parents may volunteer to serve on a steering committee
of up to 4 members
- The Ward Council will vote to accept the Steering Committee and may at any time review the steering committee membership
- One member of the steering committee will appointed by the Steering Committee to act as chairperson.
- The steering committee will determine agenda items for meetings and implement council decisions (i.e. motions to the board/correspondence/petition development and follow-up etc)
- The steering committee will meet (or communicate by e-mail) two weeks prior to Ward Council meeting to finalize an agenda. The agenda will be forwarded by e-mail to the Trustee, Superintendents, school principals, school council chairs, ward council representatives and through the school principals to the student council president of secondary schools.
Agenda Setting Process
- Proposed agenda items are to be received by the steering committee at regular Ward Council meetings or sent to the steering committee members. These items shall be tabled by the steering committee and a final agenda set for the next ward council meeting.
- The notice of meeting and agenda shall be sent to the Trustee, Superintendents, school principals, school council chairs, ward council representatives and through the school principals to the student council president of secondary schools two weeks in advance of the next council meeting.
Membership
Ward Council membership shall consist of:
Parent Membership
- Two parents from each school in the Ward who are elected by their local school council. Delegates are also considered to be members. Any number of delegates may be identified by school councils.
Resource Team
- Principal of host school
- Host school staff could include people from: teacher federations, staff, special programs, etc.
- School Superintendent(s)
- Trustee
- Other resource staff
Schools and Community Members
- Community members or representatives of community organizations may attend Ward Council meetings and may receive minutes at their request.
- Secondary schools may also nominate student representative(s) to attend meetings
Voting Eligibility
- Elected school council representatives or their delegates are eligible to participate in voting on issues raised by the Ward Council. Each school may have two eligible voting representatives for any vote.
Election Process
- The nomination process for voting members of the Trinity Spadina Council is determined by the local school.
- Ward Council representatives must be elected by the local school.
- If a member is unable to attend a meeting, the local School Council and/or representative nominate another parent or student (as the case may be) to take his or her place.
Term of Office
- October/of one school year to October in the following school year
Communication
- Members will share names, phone numbers, fax numbers, E-mail addresses with each other on a voluntary basis
- It is the responsibility of Ward Council members to report back to local school councils in order to provide information and receive feedback from the school community.
- Minutes of the meetings will be recorded and the minutes will be distributed to the Trustee, Superintendents, school principals, school council chairs, ward council representatives and through the school principals to the student council president of secondary schools.
Structure and Decision-Making Process
- Agenda setting, planning meetings, implementation of Council decisions and decision-making between Council meetings will be the responsibility of a Steering Committee
- When deemed necessary Ward Council working committees may be formed:
- Working committees of the Trinity Spadina Ward Council will be established as the need arises. The existence of the working committee and the committee’s objective will be acknowledged by a vote of the ward council.
- A working committee shall appoint a chair who shall be the spokesperson for the committee.
- Committees shall report back on their activities to the council.
- Any member of the Ward Council, the School Trustee or the Superintendents may request a special or emergency meeting of the Ward Council. The request shall be made to a steering committee member and the Steering Committee shall determine the need for a special meeting. The Steering Committee will make arrangements for the meeting including notification of Ward Council members.