Many of the activities, powers and responsibilities of the Community Council will closely parallel those of the current school Advisory Councils. The views of the Community Council will serve as advice to the Board of Governors, which is the sole decision-making body. However, the Community Council will also elect three members to the Board of Governors to ensure continued grass-roots representation and empowerment.

Principal and Staff

The principal of the Community-Operated Public School is the educational leader of the school and has the overall responsibility for its day-to-day operation. Therefore, it is essential that the principal be committed to the concept of the Community-Operated Public School and the success of the pilot project. The principal will also have a key role in the governance of the school, much like the executive director of an organization or business. At the same time she or he must be willing to take direction from the volunteer governing body and to draw from the strengths of the community while maintaining authority over staff and students.

The responsibilities of the principal are:

  • to ensure that the community vision for education is understood and accepted and that strategies for its implementation are in place
  • to ensure that the Community-Operated Public School programs are delivered to the students in the most appropriate manner
  • to communicate regularly with the parents of the students on issues of attendance and performance
  • to ensure that reasonable steps are taken to create and maintain a safe, orderly positive and effective learning environment
  • to direct the financial management of the school and account to the Board of Governors for all expenditures and incomes
  • to identify the staffing needs of the school and to assist the Board of Governors in the selection of staff
  • to evaluate the performance of teachers and other staff and recommend to the Board of Governors professional development programs for the staff of the school
  • to encourage participation and facilitate the work of the Community Council
  • to co-operate with the representatives of the Department of Education, the Strait Regional School Board and the NSTU
  • to participate in the evaluations of the pilot program
  • to sit on the Board of Governors of the Community Operated Public School