CNG Parent Council: PARENT COUNCIL BY LAWS

Parent Council bylaws

The Parent Council is an active, legal, organization whose members are elected by the parent community during beginning of the year open houses. This council is required by Colombian law and is designed to provide support to the administration on school development and school improvement related initiatives.

Parent Council Responsibilities

• Provide comments and suggestions regarding the analysis, diffusion and use of State exams to the Academic Council.

• Propose strategies to motivate students taking State Exams.

• Maintain open and honest communication with the Director, Board of Directors, Director’s Council and PTA, and provide accurate information t members of the school community.

• Support the arts, scientific and sports activities organized by the school.

• Review the school’s improvement plan along with the measurements of progress and objectives and provide input regarding any proposed changes to the Plan.

• Promote activities with parents which contribute to the student’s learning process.

• Promote community integration. 

• Submit proposals for changes to the Student Handbook.

• Support activities related to mental and physical health, learning disabilities, school integration and improvement of the environment.

• Submit parent proposals related to the school’s educational project.

• Elect the President and Secretary of the Parent Council for the corresponding school year at the firms Parent Council general meeting.

• Elect the Parent Council representative to the Director’s Council at the first Parent Council general meeting.

• In case of a Parent Council member resignation, appoint a new representative for the corresponding grade.

Parent Council President’s Responsibilities

• Preside and moderate all Parent Council general meetings and delegate these functions when unable to attend.

• Establish the standing committees for the current school year.

• Prepare and present the Parent Council’s Annual Report to the CNG Annual Assembly.

• Prepare and present the Parent Council’s annual evaluation and performance report to the schools administration before the end of the school year.

• Represent the Parent Council before other CNG governing bodies.

Parent Council Secretary’s Responsibilities

• Request input from Parent Council members on items for the agenda for the monthly general meetings and elaborate final agenda in conjunction with school administration.

• Circulate agenda to all Parent Council members prior to the scheduled general meeting.

• Keep attendance record.

• Write general meeting minutes and circulate draft to all Parent Council members no later than a week after the general meeting has been held.

• Prepare final minutes from input received from Parent Council members and circulate to all Parent Council members prior to next general meeting. Once members have been approves, the secretary must post send them to Parent Council members, the Director, and the Assistant to the Director.

• Prepare and send monthly newsletter to parent community summarizing discussions of general meeting.

Duties of Parent Council Members

• Sign and abide by the CNG Code of Honor and the Parent Council confidentiality agreement. Any Parent Council member who does not abide by the confidentiality agreement will be asked by the President of the Parent Council to resign from the Parent Council.

• Attend at least 75% of monthly general meetings scheduled by the administration at the beginning of the school year. Parent Council members who miss more than 25% of the general meetings will not be able to run for re-election the following school year. If a Parent Council member misses three or more general meetings during the first half of the school year (October-January), the Parent Council President will ask him or her to resign. 

• Participate in at least one standing committee.

• Maintain close communication with parent community of corresponding grade.

• Moderate discussion boards or chat rooms of corresponding grade to ensure high standards of positive interaction and communication.

Duties of the Parent Council Representative to the Director’s Council 

• Attend all meetings of the Directors Council and prepare summarized report to present at the following Parent Council meeting.

• Submit to Directors Council any changes to the Student Handbook proposed by the Parent Council.

• Prepare an end- of- year report to the Parent Council.