Join a school council

The Schools and Student Services Branch of Department of Education leads most school councils.

The Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon (CSFY) leads the French First language schools:

• École Émilie-Tremblay; and
• Centre scolaire secondaire communautaire Paul-Émile Mercier (CSSC Mercier).

The Department of Education funds school councils and CSFY. The duties and powers of school councils are described in sections of the Education Act, primarily Section 113.

These include:

• reviewing and approving school growth plans;
• reviewing and developing school-based policies such as:
  • dispute resolution;
  • attendance; and
  • discipline policies;
• participating in hiring school principals;
• making recommendations on how school budgets are spent; and
• advising on matters such as:
  • length of the school years;
  • staffing needs;
  • school renovations;
  • school programming;
  • discipline policies;
  • student transportation; and
  • proposing locally developed courses.

Protecting privacy

School council members are bound by an oath of confidentiality. They must not reveal personal information about staff or students. Sometimes meetings must be closed to the public to protect personal information.

To find a school council, visit the school's website. Find a school website on our Find a school webpage.

If the school's website does not have a school council link, please contact the school directly.

 

 

The school council liaison provides support to school councils.

• Providing information and advice about school council to members and to the public on:
  • mandates;
  • responsibilities;
  • policies; and
  • procedures.
• Helping with problem-solving.
• Training school council members.
• Supporting recruitment between general school council elections.
• Coordinating and managing annual school council conferences.
• Working with school councils on the annual school calendars.
• Working with Yukon First Nations on the appointments of guaranteed representatives.
• Researching issues and developing and proposing policies as requested by school councils.

School administrators and superintendents also support school councils.

The Department of Education provides resource materials and offers professional development opportunities such as:

• conferences;
• workshops; and
• training to school councils.

 

These associations also support school councils:

• Association of Yukon School Councils, Boards and Committees; and
• Catholic Education Association of Yukon.

Roles and responsibilities

• Role of the chair.
• Role of the secretary-treasurer.
• The sample job description of secretary-treasurer.
• Role of the Department of Education School Council Liaison.
• Role of Association of Yukon School Councils, Boards and Committees (AYSCBC).

Rules and regulations

Much of a school council’s work is described in acts, regulations and policies.

• Policies and legislation web pages.
• Regulations under the Education Act.

Financial information and reporting

School councils are legally required to report on the funds they receive from the government. The Education Act sets out how councils can use their funds. Councils conduct banking arrangements, pay their accounts and report on an annual basis how they used the funds.

• School Council Financial Statement template.
• How to complete School Council Financial Statement template.
• School Council Synoptic journal template.
• How to complete School Council Synoptic journal template.
• School Councils and school board operating grants regulation.

Honoraria

School council members may receive honoraria for the meetings they attend. Canada Revenue Agency considers honoraria a taxable benefit. School council members may choose to donate their honoraria to their schools or school councils.

• Year-end honoraria information template.
• Instructions for handling T4A information.
• T4A information for members to provide to the department.
• School council members donate honoraria to school template.
• School council members donate honoraria to school council template.

Oaths and ethics 

New school council members are required to take 2 prescribed oaths:

• Oath of office
• Oath of non-disclosure (confidentiality)

 

This applies when a member is:

• elected;
• acclaimed; or
• appointed.

 

Secretary-treasurers who are hired by a school council are required to take 1 prescribed oath:

• Oath of non-disclosure (confidentiality) 

 

When you are ready to be sworn in:

1. Fill in the required oath form(s)

• Oath of office for Yukon School Council member and;
• Oath or declaration of non-disclosure for School Council member; or
• Oath or declaration of non-disclosure for School Council hired secretary-treasurer

2. To take the oath contact the Department of Education School Council Liaison at [email protected] or (867) 667-8226.

3. Send the notarized form to the Department of Education office.

School Council Liaison Email: [email protected]
Fax: 867-393-6339
Mail:
Government of Yukon
Public Schools (E-9)
Box 2703, 
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

Protection from liability

Section 194 of the Education Act protects school council members from legal liability, when they:

• are legally exercising their powers; and
• in a way that is not negligent.

 

Negligence normally refers to:

• acts that are wilfully intended to harm;
• acts that members should reasonably expect would cause harm; and
• wilfully ignoring a situation that would likely cause harm.

To be negligent, harm has to actually occur to a person.

Eligibility for school council membership

You are eligible to serve on a school council if you are a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old and:

• you have lived in the school’s attendance area for at least 3 months; or
• you are the parent of a child who attends the school.

According to Section 151 of the Education Act, you cannot serve on a school council if you work in the school.

Run for election to a school council

You can be elected to a school council. To run in an election, you have to get nomination signatures from at least 3 people who are qualified to vote in the election.

Elections are held:

• every 2 years;
• in even-numbered years; and
• in the spring.

Visit the Elections Yukon website for more information about school council elections.

Filling vacancies on a school council

Under Section 108 of the Education Act:

• a school council can recommend a person fill a vacancy;
• the Minister of Education can appoint a person recommended by the council; or
• the Minister can call a by-election to fill the vacancy.

Guaranteed representation for Yukon First Nations

Section 68 of the Education Act provides for guaranteed representation of Yukon First Nations on School Councils. To find out more about these positions, contact:

• your local principal Find a school;
• the school council;
• a First Nations' office; or
• the school council liaison at the Department of Education [email protected].

Disqualification of council members

Section 151 of the Education Act says that a person is no longer qualified and forfeits their seat on a council when they:

• are absent from 3 meetings in a row without authorization;
• are no longer an elector in the attendance area (i.e., moves away);
• use information gained as a council member for financial gain;
• are a judge other than a justice of the peace or youth court; and
• are employed in a school operated by the school council, with the exception of a hired secretary-treasurer of a school council.

If a member has a financial interest in a matter before the council, the member  must:

• disclose the interest before the discussion in council;
• not vote on any question relating to the matter;
• not discus the matter; and
• leave the room until after the discussion and voting are finished.

Members who break these rules:

• are no longer qualified; and
• forfeit their seat on the council.

Any person can apply to the court to determine if a member is qualified to remain on the council. The Education Act describes the process in detail.

Building relationships with your council and community

Yukon School Council Resource Guide

Serving on a School Council in Yukon

The Association of Yukon School Councils, Boards and Committees (AYSCBC) worked in partnership with Yukon First Nations Education Directorate (YFNED), Catholic Education Association of Yukon (CEAY), Department of Education (DOE) and many others to develop this resource guide.

The guide provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of school council members and includes a variety of tools, templates and tips to assist members during their time on council.

School staff hiring and performance review

School councils have a role in evaluating principals. They may provide a recommendation to the superintendent for teachers, principals or other employees in the school on:

• dismissal;
• transfer;
• discipline; or
• demotion.

To learn more:

• read Education Act, Section 113; and
• visit the Educator evaluation webpage.

School growth process

The purpose of the school growth process is to improve the success of each Yukon learner.

School staff, school councils, parents, Yukon First Nations, Elders and students are involved in:

• planning;
• determining appropriate actions to achieve goals; and
• monitoring progress.