What is Expected of Members…

This is really a generalized job description for all board members. Job descriptions for specific board positions such as president, vice president, etc. define additional responsibilities.

Check off your willingness to accept these responsibilities.

1. Knowledge and Preparation

• Educate myself on the organization, its history, goals, clients/constituency, staff, current situation, problems and needs.
• Keep abreast of national, state and local trends that affect the organization and its clients/constituency
• Educate myself on the role and responsibility of the board as a whole as well as individual board members

2. Participation

• Participate in the tasks of the board
• Be an enthusiastic and knowledgeable voice for the organization
• Serve actively on at least one committee; understand how committees relate to the board
• Act as an advocate for the organization and its clientele
• Contribute financially to the organization, ef agreed by the board
• Participate in discussions at meeting; ask probing questions and seek relevant answers before voting
• Report to the board, in written and/or verbal form, as appropriate
• Recognize my role as a member of a team

3. Time Commitment

• Attend board orientation and training
• Attend board meetings, committee meetings and general membership meetings
• Do assigned work between meetings, including preparing for meetings by reading reports and background material

4. Constraints

• Support board decisions once they’re made (even if I voted against the decision) or resign if I can’t
• Avoid any possibility of conflict of interest
• Understand the difference between the roles of the board and the staff; don’t attempt to do a staff’s job, or let them do mine

The Good Council Member…

Councils are only as effective and productive as the people who serve on them. Labeling some members as good and others as bad is common; seldom, however, does one hear of a clear definition of what constitutes a “good” Council member. As a starter, the following guidelines are offered.

A Good Council Member:

· Is technically a council member only when the school council is in session. No one person, unless authorized, should presume to speak on behalf of the Council.

· Avoids decisions which are administrative in nature, recognizing them to be the responsibility of the principal.

· Is well acquainted with archdiocesan and local school policies.

· Votes at all times for what is in the best interest of the students.

· Is flexible and realizes that there are times when changes must be made, when tradition cannot be honored, and when pressure must be ignored.

· Remembers that council business requires confidentiality.

· Is interested in obtaining facts, but remembers also that the principal has the responsibility of operating the school rather than having to spend full time making reports to the council or to individual members.

· Knows that the reputation of the entire school is reflected in his/her behavior and attitude.

· Is a good listener at council meetings, on the street corner, in the church, but never commits himself/herself, the council, or the principal.

· Insists that all policies be set forth in writing and that they be periodically evaluated.

· Is able to separate fact from fiction, rumor from reality.

· Supports the principal in his/her administration of the school.

· Understands the need for team work among council, principal and pastor and, as a result, supports decisions when they are made.

Most Difficult Things for SAC Members to Learn:

• Determining what your function is on the council and how to accomplish it effectively.
• That no matter what you think you know about council service when you first come on the council, you still have a lot to learn.
• Learning to acknowledge publicly that you have no power and authority as an individual advisory council member; that only the council as a whole can function.
• Recognizing the difference between formulating policy (the council’s job) and administering the school (the principal’s job).
• That you must represent all the parents/students. Your decision must be made in the interest of the total school and not make solely for special groups or interests.
• Learning how to respond to the complaints and concerns of parents, school administrators and other staff.
• That change comes slowly.
• That you can’t solve everyone’s problems by yourself.
• That you must think deeply and sometimes accept a reality that is contrary to your own beliefs.
• That effective council membership means being able to hold the minority viewpoint when voting on a given issue, then openly supporting the majority vote or consensus position in your community.
• Discovering how the school is funded.

The SAC Members’ Ten Commandments:

1. Give the time, thought, and study necessary to get the job done right. Do your homework!
2. Seek adequate data – A few opinions are not enough for a serious discussion.
3. Uphold final decision of the Council even if your opinion had differed.
4. Function in harmony and cooperation.
5. No individual member speaks for the Council – no one has legal authority.
6. Keep confidential matters confidential. If Council sessions are open, not much is classified as “confidential information.” Executive sessions are exclusive and by their nature confidential.
7. Work always for the welfare of the students in the school – have no personal “ax to grind.”
8. Be constantly aware that you are working in an advisory capacity for the betterment of the school.
9. Stick to your proper function.
10. Sell the school – good public relations is always needed. Seek positive input!

SAC Membership

Eligibility Requirements:

Advisory Councils vary in size and in method of selection. Ordinarily, Advisory Councils have either seven or nine elected/appointed members serving three-year terms, plus the pastor and principal as ex officio members. In determining membership eligibility, the following issues should be among those considered.

• Supporting members of the parish/parent of a child attending the school;
• Twenty-one years of age or older;
• Genuine interest in Catholic school education;
• Ability to work effectively with others;
• Willingness to maintain high levels of integrity and confidentiality;
• Willingness to support archdiocesan/parish/school philosophy and mission;
• Be a credible witness of the Catholic faith to the school and beyond;
• Not a salaried employee of the particular parish or school;
• Not an immediate relative of a salaried employee as determined by the pastor.

Membership Qualifications:

Parish communities, in readying for school Advisory Council elections, should individuals who have special skills or expertise (e.g. legal, financial, public relations, etc.) to present themselves as candidates for Advisory Council membership. The contribution such people make benefits the entire parish/school community. When certain areas of expertise are not possessed by elected Advisory Council members, efforts should be made to recruit such people to serve on ad hoc committees.

The following are examples of desirable qualifications for those who would serve on Catholic school Advisory Council:

• A willingness to find the time to serve conscientiously;
• Ability to be objective and free of personal self-interest;
• Ability to influence public opinion favorable in areas of importance to the school;
• A willingness to learn while serving as an Advisory Council member;
• A demonstrated competence in his/her chosen field;
• A willingness to support Advisory Council decision even if s/he does not fully agree;
• A willingness to accept working within the framework of an Advisory Council.

How well do I personally participate during meetings?

• Do I come on time to meetings, or do I come late and expect a summary of what’s happened so far?
• Do I understand the purpose of the particular meeting and what we want to accomplish, or do I attend just to “play it by ear?”
• Do I try to direct attention toward the relevant topics whether or not I’m the designated leader, or do I go off on tangents and encourage others to do the same?
• Do I share my knowledge and skills when they are related to what we are discussing, or do I wait until someone asks me?
• Do I participate actively in discussions and suggest new ideas, alternatives, and procedures, or do I just sit and listen?
• Do I ask questions when I don’t understand, or do I pretend to understand because I think others will think I am stupid?
• Do I speak up when I feel strongly about something, or do I keep quiet and then complain later when things did not turn out the way I wanted?
• Do I dominate the meeting or do I encourage others to participate?
• Do I feel that the leader has total responsibility for the way the meeting goes and grumble if it is poorly run, or do I take responsibility for helping the meeting go well?
• Do I help set up chairs, serve refreshments and clean up when the meeting is over, or do I disappear when there is set-up and clean-up to be done?