Who Participates in the School Governing Body?
The School Governing Body consists of:
• the school principal
• elected representatives (parents, educators, other staff members,
• optional co-opted members who do not have the right to vote (for example, members of the community, or the owner of the school property).
You can represent other parents on an School Governing Body if you are nominated and voted for by the parents. The majority of voting members of the School Governing Body must be parents.
The principal will provide parents with information about School Governing Body elections.
What are the functions of the School Governing Body?
The governing body must:
• Decide on an admissions policy for the school.
• Decide on the language policy of the school.
• Decide on what religious practices will be followed at the school.
• Adopt a code of conduct for learners which sets out disciplinary procedures.
All these decisions and policies must be in line with national policies.
The School Governing Body must also:
• Adopt a constitution setting out how the School Governing Body will operate.
• Adopt a school mission statement setting out the values and beliefs of the school.
• Decide the times of the school day.
• Administer the school's property, buildings and grounds.
• Make recommendations regarding the appointment of educators at the school.
In addition, a governing body can be given any of these functions:
• maintaining and improving the school's property, buildings and grounds
• deciding on the extramural curriculum and the choice of subject options according to provincial curriculum policy
• buying textbooks, educational material and/or equipment for the school
• paying for services to the school.
