School Council Election: List of Candidates
Schools are accepting declarations of candidacy for Advisory School Council members for the 2009-10 school year until Friday, May 22nd (the deadline for CHS and RRMS is August 21st). Advisory School Council members are elected in the late summer, during school registration and elementary parent-teacher conferences and testing. This encourages community participation in the election and that the Council is chosen and ready to serve as school is getting underway. To facilitate this process, those interested in running for Council positions for next year (except for positions at new schools) are required to indicate their interest before the end of this school year.
Each school’s election is separate, and voters must cast their ballots at the school during regular office hours or as otherwise provided at each school (such as during registration).
Rio Rancho residents aged 18 or older may vote in any school’s council election. School staff members may vote at the school where they are employed, and parents at the school their child attends.
What IS a
School Advisory Council?
School councils consist of two school staff members, two parents, and two community representatives who must be Rio Rancho residents or have a student enrolled in a Rio Rancho public school. The principal serves as an active member of the council. Business people who are parents or community members are especially encouraged to run for school councils. Parents whose children are not currently enrolled at a school but who will be enrolled by the beginning of the next school year may run for that school’s council. (For example, parents of incoming 6th graders may run at middle schools.)
Advisory school councils advise school principals on budgets, curriculum, and rules and policies. School council members are also expected to be champions for students in building community support for schools, develop creative ways to involve parents in schools, and where appropriate, help to connect schools and students to business resources and opportunities.
About Advisory School Councils...more info:Here are some important links:
In the spring of 2003, the New Mexico State Legislature passed, and Governor Richardson signed, the education reform legislation known as House Bill 212. This bill included many sweeping changes to education law and policy in New Mexico.
One of the provisions in HB 212 requires each public school to have an elected “school council” to advise the principal and promote business, community, and parent involvement in schools. Rio Rancho Public Schools has always sought and valued such involvement, and most Rio Rancho schools have in the past had various types of school and site councils.
However, the new legislation requires that each school have an elected council with parent and community representation, and defines certain duties that school councils are expected to perform. Rio Rancho Public Schools Policy #328 makes the provisions of HB 212 that relate to school councils a part of district policy.
Your school’s success in creating a productive school council that provides meaningful input to your school’s principal and staff depends on finding qualified candidates who are willing to stand for election to the council. View this page to get answers to some of your questions about what is required to serve on a school council, and to encourage you to make a positive contribution to your schools and community by running for a school council seat.
Click here to run for a spot on your school's Advisory Council!