All government schools in Victoria have school councils.They are legally formed bodies that are given powers to set the key directions of a school. In the performance of their role, school councils are able to directly influence the quality of education that the school provides for its students. Within guidelines provided by the Department of Education and Training, the Footscray High School council has responsibilities for developing such things as:
- the school strategic plan which sets out the main goals and priorities of the school for three years
- the annual implementation plan which puts into practice the strategic plan
- the school’s budget which shares out the available resources to make sure that the goals/targets of the strategic plan are carried out
- the general educational policy of the school
- the physical appearance and maintenance of the school’s buildings and grounds
- the student code of conduct which provides a safe and orderly environment for learning
- an annual report on the school’s achievements.
Footscray High School Council meets eight times a year. If you want to attend a School Council meeting, have a matter to raise or want to find out more about the work of the School Council, please contact the School Council President or the general office.
Membership of School Council
Parents & Carers
Parent members must comprise more than one-third of the school council’s total membership. Parent members within this category are elected by parents of students currently at the school.
‘Parent’ includes a guardian or person with parental responsibility for the student. A parent of a student at the school who is a Department of Education and Training employee but does not work at or for the school is included in the Parent electorate. These parents are classified on school council as ‘DET parents’.
DET Employees
Members of the Department employee member category make up no more than one third of council membership according to the constituting Order.
Department employee members are elected by Department employees at the school (except for the principal who is an automatic Department employee member of school council as the council’s executive officer.)
Student Members
For all government schools with a Year 7 cohort and above, a mandated student member category (2 positions) is required.
Student members of school council have the same role and responsibilities as other council members including full voting rights. However, student members are not eligible to hold any office bearer position.
To be eligible to run in the student member category, that person must be a current student Footscray High School student. There is no minimum age requirement. These members are elected by all students enrolled at the FHS.
The Footscray High School Council
The Footscray High School Council is made up of elected and appointed members in four categories:
- parents and carers (6 members)
- principal, assistant principal, teachers and school staff (4 members)
- students (2 members)
- community members (up to 2 members)
Elections are held annually to fill vacancies for parent, student and teacher members.
The term of office for elected and co-opted members is not more than two years unless the term has been varied by a Ministerial Order. The term of office commences the day after the date of declaration of the poll and ends on the date of the declaration of the poll held two years later.
| MEMBER NAME | MEMBER CATEGORY |
|---|---|
| Jillian English | Principal |
| John Box | DET Representative |
| Kellie Catanese | DET Representative |
| Zach Malagoli | DET Representative |
| Alison Langley | Parent Representative (School Council President) |
| Erika Jonsson | Parent Representative (School Council Vice President) |
| Keith Randall | Parent Representative |
| Sarah Hannah | Parent Representative |
| Ray Varone | Parent Representative |
| Meg Cotter | Parent Representative |
| Sassy Mozjerin | Student Representative |
| Rehan Rahman | Student Representative |