School council is an excellent way for parents to get involved in their children’s education. Every TDSB school has an elected school council, made up of an elected committee of parents, staff and student representatives, appointed community members, the principal, and a general membership which includes all parents of children attending the school. The council advises the principal and the Board on a variety of issues and activities relating to student achievement, curriculum goals and priorities, school budget priorities, school safety, renovation plans, after-school activities, and criteria for selection of new principals.
The Runnymede School Council plays a key role in fundraising for the school.
- Our music, drama, arts and athletics offerings are NOT standard issue within the TDSB – they require additional funding and an extremely committed group of teachers, staff and parents.
- Our outdoor classrooms, our resident Green Teacher, the Kinder-Garden, our bi-annual Yard Days, our Eco-School status, our Peacekeeper Program are all unique within the TDSB – these, too, require funding and volunteer time.
- Our teachers at Runnymede each received approximately $300 last year to spend on enriching their class or classroom – again, this is not true of all schools in the TDSB!
- Given Runnymede’s socio-economic ranking, we are not a priority to receive funds from the TDSB for technology so money raised by the Council has contributed towards technology purchases.
These are a but a few of the items that Runnymede Parent Council has allocated funds to in recent years – with the objective of spending on projects which collectively, over the long term, benefit the largest number of students. If you have opinions on how funds should be allocated, simply attend council meetings to become a part of the decision-making process!
Council Meetings: Our next meeting will be held on October 27, 2011, at 7:30pm in the school library. Everyone is welcome at all council meetings. Highlights of our last meeting and minutes for past meetings back to 2005 are available on our minutes page.
- Where Does the Money Go?: Visit our Where Does the Money Go page for our fundraising goals and budgets, and to find out where the money actually goes.
- Ward 7 Updates: Up to four elected council members represent our interests at Ward 7 meeetings, bringing back updates and actions for us to discuss.
- Get Involved: Whether or not you attend the main council meetings, there are lots of ways to volunteer your time, primarily through one of our vibrant committees. You are welcome — and encouraged! — to join at any time of year and contribute whatever you can.
- Officers and Members: As a Runnymede parent, you are automatically a member of the school council. Four officer positions are elected each year at the September meeting, and to become a voting council member, you simply have to attend the Annual General Meeting in September and put your name down.
- Runnymede School Council Constitution
- TDSB School Councils site
