The end of the school year can be one of the busiest times for the members of school councils with year-end community events, graduations and succession planning for next year’s council.
It is an excellent time to recruit new parents for next year when the community can see the results of the hard work of the council. Whether you have worked to raise funds to improve the educational experience of students at the school, hosted a parent learning/engagement event or planned a fun fair/BBQ for the community – you have made a difference for all students. Sometimes, it is the silent work that is done by the council through partnering and supporting the school administrators that is the most important work that a council does in a year. Be sure to communicate this work to parents as well. Unless they attend meetings regularly they are likely unaware of this important responsibility of school council members.
Take some time to go over the plan you made at the beginning of the year to revisit your goals and determine those which were accomplished and those that require further work next year. If your council did not create a specific plan for the year it is still a great time to look at all that was done and perhaps make some notes on what still can be done. It is the start of planning for the next school year.
Regulation 612 requires every school council to provide an annual report of it’s activities along with a financial statement.
This report can be the most valuable tool in engaging new parents to run for election for a position on the school council in the next school year. It is an opportunity for members to be proud of all the work that they have done. It is also an opportunity to outline the goals of the council which could be accomplished next year with the increased participation of parents on the council.
Consider areas where a parent with a special skill or talent could have contributed to a project or provided valuable input to a council discussion. Point out these areas in your annual report. Perhaps a parent with these skills will read the annual report and consider taking part in the council in the upcoming school year.
The report may identify a challenge with communicating with parents to let them know about matters the council will discuss at upcoming meetings or events that will assist parents in engaging with their children to increase their academic achievement. A suggestion that parents provide the council with permission to email them directly will lay the groundwork for requesting this information in the new school year. Parents need to know the reason behind a request and giving them information about why the lack of contact information creates a challenge for the council may make more parents more comfortable with the request.
