Kill National School

Scoil Bhride Kill Co. Kildare
Parents Association Constitution

1.0 PREAMBLE
The Parents and Guardians of Scoil Bhride Kill acknowledge that the school Ethos as defined by the School is promoted in the daily life of the school.

2.0 PURPOSE
2.1 The Parent Association is the structure through which the parents and guardians of children attending Scoil Bhride, Kill can work together for the best possible education for their children.
2.2 The parent association works with the principal, staff and the Board of Management to build effective partnership between home and school.
2.3 The Parent Association will promote the interests of the students in co-operation with the board, principal, teachers and students, in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1998.

3.0 TITLE/ MEMBERSHIP
3.1 The Body shall be known as the Scoil Bhride, Kill Parents Association
3.2 All Parents an/or Guardians of pupils enrolled in the school are deemed to be
members of the Association
3.3 The Association recognises that problems relating to individual pupils or parents
and/or teachers are a matter for determination between the individual pupil and/or
parents/guardians and the School authorities.
3.4 The Association will remain independent, but may affiliate to other bodies and
associations, where such affiliation will be deemed to be of benefit to the Parents
Association and the School.

4.0 OBJECTIVES
4.1 To promote the interests of the students in a school in cooperation with the board, principal, teachers and students
4.2 To advise the principal or the board on matters relating to the school
4.3 To adopt a programme of activities which will promote the involvement of parents in the operation of the school, and advance the aims and objectives of the school in consultation with the principal
4.4 To provide opportunities for discussion, information and consultation about matters of common and/or topical interest to parents, teachers and pupils of the school
4.5 To be aware of and embody the Ethos of the School so that all can advance in a spirit of cooperation and mutual support, to the benefit of parents, guardians, pupils, teachers and the Community
4.6 The Parents Association shall operate independently of the Scoil Bhride, Kill, Board of Management


5.0 PARENTS ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE
5.1 The affairs of the Association shall be conducted by the Parents Association
Committee ("the Committee"). The members of the Parent Association will elect a committee with a maximum of 20 and a minimum of 8 members. This committee will have responsibility for representing the parents of Scoil Bhride, Kill and managing the activities of the Parent Association.

5.2 The Role of the Committee is to manage the business of the Parents Association in accordance with the Constitution. The committee shall have shared responsibility for:
5.2.1 Planning for the future and developing a vision for the Parents Association
5.2.2 Planning and managing a programme of activities for the year
5.2.3 Communicating and consulting with and involving as many parents as possible in the activities of the Parents Association
5.2.4 Communicating and consulting with the School Principal in planning the programme of activities for the year
5.2.5 Arranging with the Principal and Board of Management a system for ongoing communication
5.2.6 At the Annual General Meeting the Committee will report to the parents about its work
5.2.7 Communicating and consulting with other partners in the school community
5.2.8 Planning agendas and keeping records of meetings
5.2.9 Looking after fund raising finances

5.3 Subcommittees can be set up for particular tasks. The subcommittees may also co-opt people to assist in their work.
5.3.1 The subcommittees may not make decisions; they remain at all times accountable to the main committee.

5.4 The members of the committee will be elected each year at the AGM of the Parent Association. The Committee shall hold office from September in each academic year until the election of the new Committee, also to be held in September of each academic year
5.4.1 Each member will be elected for one year. At the AGM all committee members step down, but they can be re-elected as long as they continue to be eligible to serve, that is as long as they continue to be a parent or guardian of a child in the school.
5.4.2 The committee will ensure x places are available for new members each year.
5.4.3 Parents' representatives elected to the Board of Management are automatically members of the committee, but will not hold an officer position on the Parent Association committee.
5.4.4 No member of the committee will hold the same officer position for more than three consecutive years.
5.4.5 The first business of the incoming Committee in each year shall be to elect
the officers of the Committee as follows: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson,
Honorary Secretary and Treasurer.
5.4.6 Committee meetings shall be chaired by the Chairperson, or in his or her
absence, the Vice Chairperson. In the absence of the both the Chairperson
and the Vice Chairperson, those members present shall elect a chairperson
for the meeting.
5.4.7 Committee resolutions shall be passed by simple majority of those members
present, all of whom are entitled to vote. The Chairperson will have a
casting vote.
5.4.8 The quorum for a meeting of the Committee will be six.
5.4.9 The Committee shall usually meet on a monthly basis during the school year, starting in September
5.4.10 The Honorary Secretary shall keep minutes of all discussions and decisions
agreed at the Committee Meetings
5.4.11 The Principal is invited to attend all Parent Committee meetings
5.4.12 The Committee may invite such persons as they wish to attend their meetings with the prior approval of the School Management


6.0 FINANCE AND FUNDRAISING
6.1 The Parents Association committee will finance the activities of the Parent Association through fundraising.
6.2 A Treasurer will be appointed from among the committee members and will be responsible for keeping account of the income and expenditure of the Parent Association finances. The Treasurer will give a statement of income and expenditure at each committee meeting.
6.3 A written statement of income and expenditure will be given at the AGM and a copy will be forwarded to the Board of Management for their information.
6.4 The Parent Association will keep a bank account in its name. Each cheque issued requires two signatures.
6.5 The Treasurer and at least one other assigned member of the committee must sign all cheques drawn on the account.
6.6 Fundraising for the school by the Parent Association will be done with the prior agreement of the Board of Management.

7.0 MEMBERSHIP OF NATIONAL PARENTS COUNCIL PRIMARY
7.1 The Parent Association will maintain membership of National Parents Council Primary by annual subscription.

8.0 CHANGING OF THE CONSTITUTION
8.1 Changes to the constitution can be made at the AGM or, if for an urgent reason, an EGM can be called for that specific purpose.
8.2 Proposals to change the constitution must be submitted in writing to the Parent Association committee. The Parent Association committee will then circulate these proposals to all parents before the AGM/EGM. All parents of children in the school at the meeting are eligible to vote on the proposals.

9.0 ANNUAL REPORTS
9.1 The Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer (if there is one) will submit Annual Reports for consideration by the members attending the Annual General Meeting. A copy of the Annual Reports will be made available to the School Management.
9.2 The Honorary Treasurer will be accountable to the School Management and the
members for all monies to which the Association and its activities give rise.

10.0 DISSOLUTION
10.1 In the event of dissolution of the Association, all of its assets shall pass to the School signed on behalf of the Parents Association




The above constitution was approved on _____________________ by




___________________ ___________________
Fiona Packenham Colleen Rooney
Chairperson Secretary