1. 2. Parent/guardian members of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee will be reimbursed for pre-approved expenses for conferences attended on behalf of the committee, including accommodation, mileage, parking and meals through the Director’s designate/Superintendent of Education in accordance with Board Governance Policies and Administrative Operational Procedures.

        altNiagara Catholic District School Board

        NIAGARA CATHOLIC PARENT INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE

        POLICY

        ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

        800 – Schools and Community Councils
        Policy No. 800.7
          
        Adopted Date: May 24, 2011  

         
        Latest Reviewed/Revised Date: March 19, 2024

         
         


        PURPOSE OF THE NIAGARA CATHOLIC PARENT INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE

         

        The purpose of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (NCPIC) as an advisory committee to the Board is to promote, encourage, and support, parent/guardian engagement at the Board and school levels, to build strong Catholic identity and community, nurture the distinctiveness of Catholic education, and advance student achievement and well-being of all students in the Niagara Catholic District School Board.

         

        1.   Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee members are to maintain a regional wide focus to support Catholic education in all schools in the Niagara Catholic District School Board.

        2.   Recommendations made by the committee shall be in keeping with the Mission, Vision and Values of the Niagara Catholic District School Board, the distinctive character of Catholic education and will be respectful of the faith and traditions of the Catholic Church.

        3.   The Board will retain all the powers and duties as specified in the Education Act .


         


        MANDATE OF THE NIAGARA CATHOLIC PARENT INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE

         


        The Board and/or school administration may ask for recommendations from the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee.


         


        1.   The Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee shall achieve its purpose by:

        ·   providing information and advice on parent/guardian engagement to the Board;

        ·   communicating with, and supporting Catholic School Councils of schools of the Board;

        ·   undertaking activities to help parents/guardians of students of the Board support their children’s learning at home and at school;

        ·   developing strategies and initiatives the Board and the Director of Education could use to effectively communicate with parents/guardians and to effectively engage parents /guardians in improving student achievement and well-being;


        ·   advising the Board and the Director of Education on ways to use the strategies and initiatives;


        ·   working with Catholic School Councils, the Director of Education and/or the Director’s designate/Superintendent of Education, and with employees of the Board to:

        o   share effective practices to help engage parents/guardians, especially parents/guardians who may find engagement challenging, in their children’s learning,

        o   identify and reduce barriers to parent/guardian engagement,

        o   help ensure that schools of the Board create a welcoming environment for parents/guardians of its students,

        o   develop skills and acquire knowledge that will assist the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee and Catholic School Councils of the Board with their work;

        o   communicate information from the Ministry of Education Parent Engagement Office to Catholic School Councils of the Board and to the parents/guardians of students of the Board;

        o   determine, in consultation with the Director of Education and/or the Director’s designate/Superintendent of Education, and in keeping with the Board Governance Policies and Administrative Operational Procedures how funding, if any, provided under the Education Act for parent/guardian involvement is to be used;  

        o   review new and revised Board Policies; and

        o   any other matter deemed appropriate by the Board.


         

        2.   The Board shall establish a yearly budget to address the various activities projected for the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee.

         

        COMPOSITION

          

        1.   The Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee shall include the following:

         

        ·   the number of parent/guardian members the Board determines appropriate and as specified in the By-Laws of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee,

        ·   the Director of Education of the Board and/or the Director’s designate/Superintendent of Education,

        ·   two members of the Board,

        ·   up to three Community Representatives appointed by the Board on an annual basis, and

        ·   the Bishop of the Diocese of St. Catharines or his appointed representative.

         

        2.   The Board may appoint one or more of the following individuals subject to the By-Laws of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee:  

         

        ·   one principal of an elementary school of the Board,  

        ·   one principal of a secondary school of the Board,

        ·   one teacher employed, other than a principal or vice-principal, in an elementary school of the Board,

        ·   one teacher employed, other than a principal or vice-principal, in a secondary school of the Board,

        ·   one person employed by the Board, other than a principal, vice-principal or teacher, i.e. (support staff),  

        ·   one Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) representative to advocate for students with special needs,

        ·   one Secondary Student Senate representative, and

        ·   one parent/guardian to represent the Niagara Catholic District School Board as the Regional Director for the Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education (OAPCE), in accordance with the OAPCE Regional Director Eligibility Requirements.

         

         

         

         

        MEMBERSHIP

         

        Every effort will be made to ensure that membership is representative of the population distribution within the geographic areas of the jurisdiction of the Board with half of the parent/guardian representatives serving for a two-year term with the remainder serving a one-year term:

         


        Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Wainfleet   up to 2 Parent/Guardian Representatives

        Grimsby/Lincoln/West Lincoln   up to 2 Parent/Guardian Representatives

        Thorold/Merritton   up to 2 Parent/Guardian Representatives

        Niagara Falls   up to 4 Parent/Guardian Representatives

        Welland/Pelham   up to 2 Parent/Guardian Representatives

        St. Catharines/Niagara-on-the-Lake   up to 4 Parent/Guardian Representatives


         

        PARENT/GUARDIAN MEMBERSHIP - Voting members

          

        1.   To be eligible for election/appointment to the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee a person must:

        ·   be a parent/guardian of a student enrolled in a Niagara Catholic District School Board school;

        ·   reside within the jurisdiction of the Board;

        ·   support the mission of Catholic education, the Mission, Vision and Values of the Niagara Catholic District School Board; and

        ·   fully participate in the Annual Commissioning Ceremony of NCPIC members.

         

        2.   A parent/guardian who is employed by the Board is qualified to be elected/appointed to the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee and shall at the first meeting of the committee notify the committee of their employment with the Board.

         


        COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES -Voting Members


        The Niagara Catholic District School Board will appoint   up to three community representatives to the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee for a one-year term.

         

        1.   To be eligible to be appointed by the Board to the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee as a community representative, the community representative(s) must:

        i.   provide a letter of reference from a community organization to the Chair of the Board to support the nomination,

        ii.   reside within the jurisdiction of the Board, and be qualified to vote for a member of the Niagara Catholic District School Board,

        iii.   support the mission of Catholic education, and the Mission, Vision and Values of the Niagara Catholic District School Board, and

        iv.   fully participate in the Annual Commissioning Ceremony of NCPIC members.

         

        2.   A person is not qualified to be nominated or appointed to the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee as a community representative if the person is employed by the Board.



        ELECTIONS

         

        Elections of parent/guardian representatives to the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee are to be held before November 15 and before the first meeting of the committee in the school year.

         

        VACANCIES

         

        A vacancy in the membership of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee does not prevent the committee from exercising its authority.

         

        Vacancies on the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee may occur when:

        ·   a parent/guardian member has reached the end of a one or two-year term

        ·   a member resigns

        ·   a member is unable to fulfill their duties

         

        TERMS OF OFFICE

         

        Parent/Guardian Representatives

        Half of the parent/guardian representatives will serve for a two-year term while the other half will serve for a one-year term.

         

        Chair and/or Two Co-Chairs

        The Chair and/or the two Co-Chairs will serve for a two-year term and may not serve more than two consecutive terms (four years) unless at least one full two-year term has elapsed since the last term as the Chair or the Co-Chair.

         

        Community Representatives

        Community Representatives will serve for a term of one-year (renewable).

         

        Non-Voting Members

        Non-voting members will serve for a term of one-year (renewable).

         

        OFFICERS

         

        Chair and/or Two Co-Chairs

        The Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee shall elect a Chair or two Co-Chairs from the parent/guardian members to chair the committee for a two-year term at the first general meeting of the committee in the school year when there is a vacancy in accordance with the By-Laws of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee. An employee of the Board cannot serve as a Chair or Co-Chair of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee.

         

        Sub-Committees

        The Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee may establish sub-committees to carry out specific tasks or projects in accordance with the overall mandate of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee and to make recommendations on these matters   to the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee.

         

        MEETINGS

         


        The Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee shall meet between September to June at least four times in each school year. Special meetings may also be called by the Director’s designate/Superintendent of Education or by three parent/guardian members by written request to the Director’s designate/ Superintendent of Education. All meetings will be held at the Catholic Education Centre, unless otherwise noted, and are open to the public.


         

        VOTING

         

        When the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee votes on a matter only parent/guardian members and community representatives are entitled to vote.

         

        BY-LAWS

         

        The Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee shall develop By-Laws governing the establishment and conduct of the committee. A periodic review of the By-Laws will ensure that the By-Laws remain relevant.

         

        AGENDA/MINUTES AND FINANCIAL RECORDS

         

        Agenda

        Every effort will be made to distribute the agenda to members of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee at least five calendar days prior to the meeting by delivering a notice by email and posting a notice on the Board website.

         

        Delegations

        Individuals may approach the Chair or the two Co-Chairs of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee or the Director’s designate/Superintendent of Education to be placed on the agenda. This request must be in writing and received at least two weeks before the meeting. The Chair, or the two Co-Chairs in consultation with the Director’s designate/Superintendent of Education may approve or deny such requests.

         

        Minutes and Financial Records

        1.  The Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee shall keep and retain the approved meeting minutes and financial transaction records in accordance with the Governance Policies and Administrative Operational Procedures of the Board.

         

        2.  The approved minutes of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee shall be:

        ·   posted on the Board website; and

        ·   sent electronically to the Chair and/or Co-Chairs of the Catholic School Council of each school of the Board.

         


        3.  The approved meeting minutes and the financial transaction records (up to four years) shall be available for examination at the Board by any individual without charge.


         

        4.  Minutes posted on the Board website shall remain on the website for four years.

         

        INCORPORATION

         

        The Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee shall not be incorporated.

         

        CONSULTATION WITH THE NIAGARA CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD, AND

        THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

         

        1.   The Niagara Catholic District School Board may solicit and take into consideration the advice of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee with regard to matters that relate to improving student achievement, well-being and active parent engagement.

        2.   The Niagara Catholic District School Board shall inform the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee of its response to advice provided by the committee.

         

        CONSULTATION BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

         

        The Ministry of Education may solicit and take into consideration the advice of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee with regard to matters that relate to improving student achievement and well-being.

         

        CONSULTATION BY THE NIAGARA CATHOLIC PARENT INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE

         

        The Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee may solicit and take into consideration the advice of parents/guardians of students enrolled in schools of the Board with regard to matters that relate to improving student achievement and well-being.

         

        SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

         

        The Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee shall annually submit a written summary of activities including a report on how funding if any, provided under the Education Act was spent to the Chair of the Board and to the Director of Education of the Board.

         

        CONFLICT RESOLUTION

         

        All members of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee are required to be in compliance with the Board Complaint Resolution Governance Policy (800.3), and Administrative Operational Procedures and the By-Laws of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee.

         

        CODE OF CONDUCT

         

        All members of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee are required to be in full compliance with the Board Code of Conduct Governance Policy (302.6.2) and Administrative Operational Procedures and the By-Laws of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee.

         

         

         

         

        FUNDRAISING

         

        Any funds or assets generated through activities supported by the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee are the property of the Board.

         

        REMUNERATION

         

        1.   An individual shall not receive any remuneration for serving as a member of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee.

         





        2.   Parent/guardian members of the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee will be reimbursed for pre-approved expenses for conferences attended on behalf of the committee, including accommodation, mileage, parking and meals through the Director’s designate/Superintendent of Education in accordance with Board Governance Policies and Administrative Operational Procedures.


         
        Adopted Date:

         

        Revision History:

         
        May 24, 2011

         

        October 25, 2011

        February 28, 2012

        June 18, 2013

        June 21, 2016

        November 24, 2020

        May 18, 2022

        March 19, 2024
         

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        Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee Policy (800.7) Administrative Operational Procedures

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