School Council – Meetings

Quorum at a school council meeting

A school council meeting must operate with a quorum:

• a quorum requires not less than one half of school council members currently holding office to be present at the meeting
• the majority of members present must not be Department employees
• any parent members on school council who also work for the Department are counted as Department employees for the purpose of a quorum
• a member of the school council may be present in person or by videoconferencing or teleconferencing

The principal as executive officer is responsible for ensuring there are appropriate facilities if school council members wish to attend by videoconference or teleconference.

If at the end of 30 minutes after the appointed time for a school council meeting there is not a quorum, the meeting must stand adjourned to a time and place determined by the school council members present.

Some examples of school council meeting quorum requirements

Example 1

Golden Secondary College has:

• a total of 14 members — 12 members plus 2 student members, consistent with their constituting Order:
  • 0 vacancies
  • 3 community members
  • 2 student members
  • 4 school employee members
  • 5 parent members (including 1 Department employee parent)

An example of meeting the quorum requirements:

If 7 members are present (one half of all school council members) the council will meet quorum under the following conditions:

• there are at least four parent, student and/or community members present
• there are no more than 3 Department employee members present (including Department employee parents)

Example 2

Sesame Street Primary School has:

• a total constituting Order of 15 members but currently has a total current membership of 14 members under the following categories:
  • 1 vacancy
  • 4 community members
  • 4 school employee members
  • 6 parent members (no Department employee parents)

An example of meeting the quorum requirements:

If 7 members are present (one half of all current school council members) the council will meet quorum under the following conditions:

• there are at least four parent and/or community members present, and
• there are no more than 3 school employee members present