Our ACSL meets the first Tuesday of every month. Meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. and usually end at 8:30 p.m. All parents are invited to attend. Agendas of up-coming meetings are distributed in advance of the meeting through the children. Minutes of the meetings are also distributed in the same manner. Information regarding Executive members and telephone numbers are available through the school’s general office at 1-204-745-2623.

Article I Name

The name of this organization shall be Carman Elementary Advisory Council for School Leadership, hereafter called "The Advisory Council".

Article II Mission Statement

The Carman Elementary Advisory Council for School Leadership believes that children, parents and the school benefit when parents are active partners in the educational process and that it is important to incorporate ways for parents, guardians and the community to strengthen their role in the childrens’ education.

Article III Objectives

The Advisory Council will work in cooperation with school staff, school board, the superintendent, parents, students and members of the community.

 1. The Advisory Council may

a) advise the principal about school policies, activities and organization, including

1) programs

2) departmental and locally developed curricula

3) the annual school plan

4) annual school budget

5) cultural and extra-curricular activities

6) student discipline and behaviour management policies

7) health and safety

8) transportation

b) advise the principal about fund-raising and participate in fund raising activities.

c) advise the school board about the process of hiring and assigning principals by choosing the parent representatives to sit on the selection committee in the event parent representation is permitted.

d) participate in any review of the school that the Minister of Education or the school board has directed be carried out.

a) communicate with parents/guardians of children attending the school and community for its activities and expenditures.

Article IV Membership

1. The Advisory Council is an elected group of parents/guardians, teachers, staff and community members. Every effort will be made to ensure that the Council is representative of the school and community.

2. At least 2/3 of the total number of voting members must be parents or guardians of children attending the school.

3. 1/3 of the total number of voting members may be members of the community who are not parents or guardians of children attending the school.

4. Teachers and staff of the school or the division who are also parents/guardians or community members may  comprise 1/3 of the total number of voting members.

5. The principal and one teacher representative from the school, selected by the teachers of the school, are ex officio non-voting members of the Advisory Council.

6. The past chairperson of the Council is an ex officio non-voting members, unless re-elected at the annual general meeting.

Article V Advisory Council

1. Composition

The Advisory Council must consist of at least seven voting members with a maximum of 12 voting members.

At the first regular meeting following the annual general meeting the voting members shall choose an executive from among themselves. The executive will consist of the following five members: chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, treasurer and member at large.

2. Terms of Office

Membership on the Advisory Council is a two year term.

The executive officers hold one year terms.

No member shall hold the same executive position for more than two consecutive years.

3. Elections

Election of Advisory Council members will take place at the annual general meeting. Each year, 50% of the council will be newly elected and 50% will be second year members to insure both continuity and new representation.

Parents/guardians of children attending the school, community members and staff of Carman Elementary School present at the annual general meeting are eligible to vote in the election of Advisory Council members.

When the number of voting members drop below seven, the remaining council members have the power to fill positions by appointment to maintain a council of at least seven members.

The Advisory Council executive shall have the power to fill vacancies at the executive level from within the council members should they occur mid-term. In the event that an elected officer of the Council resigns his/her position, he/she may do so and remain on the Council as a voting member for the remainder of his/her two year term.

Members of the Advisory Council are responsible to parents/guardians and the community for their conduct and actions. Any council member not acting in accordance with the Council’s constitution may, by way of a vote be asked to resign.

4. Duties of the Executive

a. Chairperson

-to call and conduct meetings of the Advisory Council

- to represent the Advisory Council at public functions.

- to familiarize him/herself thoroughly with the Advisory Council Constitution.
 

b. Vice-Chairperson

- to assume the duties of the chairperson in his/her absence.
 

c. Secretary

 
- to keep accurate and up-to-date minutes of Advisory Council meetings.

- to keep an attendance record of all regular meetings.

- to be responsible for Advisory Council correspondence.

- to ensure that meetings are conducted and motions passed in proper parliamentary order.

- to notify members of regular meetings.
 

d. Treasurer

- to manage the financial affairs of the Advisory Council.

- to keep accurate and up-to-date records of all financial transactions.

- to provide a financial statement at the annual general meeting.

- to be responsible for the preparation of the Advisory Council annual budget.

e. Member at Large

- to assume duties as required.

- to attend executive and regular council meetings.

Sub-committees may be established at the discretion of the Council and may include parents/guardians, teachers, community members and individuals with specific expertise to assist the Council in developing an informed decision.

Article VII Meetings

The Advisory Council shall hold regular monthly meetings from October to June each year that are open to all parents/guardians, staff and community members.

The annual general meeting shall be held each year after the first day of the fall school term and not later than September 30. The annual meeting shall be organized and advertised by the Advisory Council chairperson and school principal.

Only elected members of the Advisory Council are entitled to vote on matters raised at a meeting of the Council. A quorum shall be no less than 50% of the voting members.

Article VIII Finances

The fiscal year for the Advisory Council shall be September 1 to August 31.

The annual budget for the Advisory Council shall be submitted at the annual general meeting.

Each year the Council shall plan and execute a method of fund raising in order to carry out its duties in accordance with the constitution.

The treasurer and chairperson shall have signing authority for financial matters.

Costs relating to word processing, copying and distribution of minutes or communication with parents and the community shall be available through the school budget.

Article IX Resolutions and Amendments

Resolutions require a simple majority (50% of voting members) to pass.

Any parent/guardian, teacher, staff or community member may propose amendments to the constitution by serving a notice of intent in writing to the chairperson at least thirty days prior to the annual general meeting. An amendment must receive at least two thirds of the votes cast by all those attending the annual general meeting in order to pass.

Article X Dissolution

The minister may dissolve the Advisory Council if the minister is of the opinion, after ensuring that a review has been conducted, that the Council is not functioning in accordance with the Advisory Council for School Leadership Regulations (Regulation 54/96 registered March 20, 1996) or in the best interests of the school.

Any assets of the Advisory Council, at the time of dissolution, shall be signed over to Carman Elementary School to be used at the discretion of the principal.