How School Councils Vote
Q: What does Alberta School Councils' Association (ASCA) do?
A: ASCA represents parents on School Councils to engage with Alberta’s Education Ministry.
Q: Why is the Regular General Meeting (RGM) important?
A: Resolutions passed at this meeting become ASCA’s policy and inform ASCA’s advocacy efforts. This year, there are a number of proposed resolutions related to public education, class sizes, and supports for special needs. These are all areas that have been cut or threatened by the current provincial government. Incorporating statements on these issues into ASCA's advocacy sends a strong statement to the government about parents' support for a strong public education system.
How to participate in the Alberta School Councils' Association (ASCA) Virtual RGM on Saturday, October 17, 2020, 10AM-3PM. Registration closes at 12pm October 13, 2020.
1. Is your School Council a member of ASCA?
• Yes? (you need to renew your membership each school year) - Great! See #2
• No? Please have your Chairperson sign up to become one: https://www.albertaschoolcouncils.ca/about/membership..
2. Discuss the ASCA RGM package with your Council Executive and determine how your School Council will vote for each of the proposed resolutions (Advocacy Resolutions Package 2020). Your council may choose to review each resolution individually, or vote to allow their delegate to vote their conscience on each one. If your council already reviewed the resolutions last spring, you can vote to let these decisions stand; however, there may need to be discussion of any Emergent Resolutions newly submitted to ASCA by the Oct. 3 deadline; ASCA is allowing such resolutions if members feel that new issues have arisen since the spring that need to be addressed. Again, you may choose to debate these as a council, or allow your delegate to vote their conscience. Emergent resolutions will be available for review on the ASCA RGM web site.
3. Decide who (a delegate) from your School Council will attend the virtual RGM presented in Zoom Conferencing webinar platform
The delegate attends virtually and votes on your School Council’s behalf using ElectionBuddy software. (Each ASCA Member School Council carries 1 vote at the RGM).
The delegate must submit a Voting Credential form, signed by their Council’s Chair.
A: Please follow the link to Advocacy Resolutions Package 2020 for all the relevant information. Please be aware that ASCA is allowing members to bring forward emergent resolutions based on issues that have arisen since the deadline for the original resolutions; the deadline for submitting these is Oct. 3. Check the RGM web page for a list of these.
A: ASCA represents parents on School Councils to engage with Alberta’s Education Ministry.
Q: Why is the Regular General Meeting (RGM) important?
A: Resolutions passed at this meeting become ASCA’s policy and inform ASCA’s advocacy efforts. This year, there are a number of proposed resolutions related to public education, class sizes, and supports for special needs. These are all areas that have been cut or threatened by the current provincial government. Incorporating statements on these issues into ASCA's advocacy sends a strong statement to the government about parents' support for a strong public education system.
How to participate in the Alberta School Councils' Association (ASCA) Virtual RGM on Saturday, October 17, 2020, 10AM-3PM. Registration closes at 12pm October 13, 2020.
1. Is your School Council a member of ASCA?
• Yes? (you need to renew your membership each school year) - Great! See #2
• No? Please have your Chairperson sign up to become one: https://www.albertaschoolcouncils.ca/about/membership..
2. Discuss the ASCA RGM package with your Council Executive and determine how your School Council will vote for each of the proposed resolutions (Advocacy Resolutions Package 2020). Your council may choose to review each resolution individually, or vote to allow their delegate to vote their conscience on each one. If your council already reviewed the resolutions last spring, you can vote to let these decisions stand; however, there may need to be discussion of any Emergent Resolutions newly submitted to ASCA by the Oct. 3 deadline; ASCA is allowing such resolutions if members feel that new issues have arisen since the spring that need to be addressed. Again, you may choose to debate these as a council, or allow your delegate to vote their conscience. Emergent resolutions will be available for review on the ASCA RGM web site.
3. Decide who (a delegate) from your School Council will attend the virtual RGM presented in Zoom Conferencing webinar platform
The delegate attends virtually and votes on your School Council’s behalf using ElectionBuddy software. (Each ASCA Member School Council carries 1 vote at the RGM).
The delegate must submit a Voting Credential form, signed by their Council’s Chair.
- Delegates must register for the virtual RGM before the deadline of 12:00pm October 13, 2020.
- Via Proxy. If you cannot attend, you can designate another delegate as your proxy, and they can vote according to your instructions. Proxy voting is difficult to manage with electronic voting. Sending delegates is the preferred way to participate. Should you need to arrange for a Proxy vote then contact info@supportourstudents.ca and we can try to connect you with a SOS Champion.
A: Please follow the link to Advocacy Resolutions Package 2020 for all the relevant information. Please be aware that ASCA is allowing members to bring forward emergent resolutions based on issues that have arisen since the deadline for the original resolutions; the deadline for submitting these is Oct. 3. Check the RGM web page for a list of these.
