A Catholic School Advisory Council is a body whose members are selected to participate in decision-making in designated areas of responsibility. A parish school is part of the educational mission of the parish for which the pastor is the canonical administrator. He delegates, according to archdiocesan policy, administrative responsibilities to the school principal, who is accountable to him.
In the Archdiocese, all local School Advisory Councils are advisory in nature. An Advisory Council operates in the policy-making process by formulating and adopting, but never enacting policy. This type of Advisory Council is in keeping with shared decision-making in the Catholic Church because of the advisory status of the archdiocesan presbyteral council and the archdiocesan finance council. The constituting authority (i.e., Pastor) establishes those areas where the Advisory Council is to be consulted. Such action is usually made effective by the Advisory Council’s By-laws.
Advisory implies that the pastor will listen to the advice of the Advisory Council in certain designated matters prior to a decision being made. The operating principle is that the pastor will accept the advice which has been given, especially when there is a consensus, unless the pastor has an overriding reason. It is customary, but not obligatory, for the pastor to communicate this reason to the advisory body.
The umbrella role of a Catholic School Advisory Council is to provide policy direction for the school.
SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL PRIMER
Our School Advisory Council generally meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 6:45pm - 8:00pm, but please confirm the meeting date and time.