Constitution of Parents Association

Of

St. Josephs National School, Clinstown

 

The purpose of the Parents Association

The purpose of the parents association is to provide a structure through which the parents/guardians of children attending St. Joseph’s National School can work together for the best possible education of their children.  The parents association will work with the principal, staff and board of management to build effective partnership of home and school.

The Aim of the Parents Assocation

The aim of the parents association is to enable parents to play their best part in ensuring the best possible education for their children, through the association’s programme of activities.

The parents association will promote the interest of the students in co-operation with the board, principal, teachers and students, in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 1998.

The Work of the Parents Association

The parents association will undertake a programme of activities which will promote the involvement of parents and which will support pupils, parents and school staff. In planning its activities, the parents association will consult with the school principal.

The parents association may advise the principal and board on any matters relating to the school in accordance with the Education Act, 1998, 26 (2) (a).

The Membership of the Parents Association

All parents or guardians of children attending St. Joseph’s National School, Clinstown, will be deemed to be members of the parents association.

The Committee of the Parents Association

The members of the parents association will elect a number of members who will have responsibility for managing the activities of the parents association.  This team will serve as the committee of the parents association for 2 years at which time a new committee is elected.

The Work of the Committee of the Parents Association

The committee is the team that will manage the tasks of the association on behalf of the parent body (the members).

The committee will draw up a plan for the activities of the association, in consultation with parents and in accordance with their wishes.

The committee will be responsible for seeing that activities are run in an efficient and effective way.

The committee will consult with the school principal when planning the programmes of activities for a particular year.

The committee will arrange with the principal and board a system for ongoing communication.

At the annual general meeting (AGM) the committee will report to the parent body (the members) about its work.

The committee will manage and account for any funds collected by the parent association.

Membership of the Committee

The members of the committee will be elected each year at the AGM of the parents association.

The number of the committee will be a maximum of 6 with a minimum of 3.

Each member will be elected for one year.  Members may go forward for election for a further year, providing they have a child in the school.

Parent representatives elected to the board of management are automatically members of the committee, but will not hold an officer post.

Co-Options and Subcommittees

The committee may co-opt people onto the committee to assist in their work. Subcommittees can be set up for particular tasks.  The subcommittee may also co-opt people to assist in their work. The subcommittees may not make decisions. They are accountable to the main committee.

Finance

The parents association will finance its activities through fund raising specifically for the work of the parent association, or through a small annual charge on parents to be agreed at the AGM.

A treasurer will be appointed from among the committee members and will be responsible for keeping the accounts of the parents association finances.  The treasurer will give a statement of income and expenditure at each committee meeting.

A written statement of income and expenditure will be given at the AGM.

The parents association will keep a bank account in its name.  The treasurer and at least one other member of the committee must sign cheques drawn on the account.

Fund Raising for the School

Fund raising for the school by the parents association will be done with the prior agreement of the board. The parents association committee will agree with the board as to the specific school projects for which funds are to be raised by the parents association.

Membership for National Parent Council Primary

The parents association will affiliate to National Parents Council Primary annually.

Changing the Constitution

Changes to the constitution can be made at the AGM. Proposals/motions to change the constitution must be submitted in writing to the parents association committee.  The parents association committee will then circulate these motions to all parents before the AGM.  All parents of children in the school at the meeting are eligible to vote on the proposals.