PEI Home and School Resolutions

An introduction to drafting, discussing and passing resolutions concerned with provincial educational policy, from the PEI Home and School Federation.

Transcript

1. Resolutions
2. Resolutions are... Home and School’s superpower for changing provincial education policy.
3. Resolutions are... A way to amplify local ideas about education policy and involve local home and schools in real decision making on a provincial level.
4. Resolutions are... A democratic tool to reflect the collective opinion of the caregivers and parents of 20,000 Island students.
5. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
6. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied •Issues that affect students and schools across the province, not just a specific school or area. •Can relate to policy or practical matters. •Should provide context and make concrete requests for change. What makes a resolution?
7. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied •Set the scene with one or more “WHEREAS” sections. Include facts and arguments. •Make the “ask” with one or more “BE IT RESOLVED” sections. •Be concise and clear; hundreds of parents need to understand your intent! Anatomy of a Resolution
8. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied An example resolution...
9. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied WHEREAS the line item in the Province of Prince Edward Island’s capital budget for capital spending on information technology is labelled “Computer Refresh,” and, An example resolution...
10. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied WHEREAS this label does not accurately reflect the true purpose of this line item, which incorporates all capital spending related to information technology by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, An example resolution...
11. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the PEIHSF requests the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development move to relabel this line item in future capital budgets to “Computers and Information Technology”. An example resolution...
12. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied •A committee of the Provincial PEIHSF Board. •Reviews the resolutions and works to fine-tune where required. •Makes the final decision about whether a resolution moves forward or not. The Resolutions Committee
13. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied
14. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied •Invite all parents, teachers and staff to attend a meeting where the resolutions will be discussed. •Read each resolution; allow for discussion and debate. •Hold a vote. •Your delegates represent your local members’ decision. Holding a Local Vote
15. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied
16. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied •Each resolution is read in full by the “Resolutions Chair” at the meeting. •The “Parliamentarian” is in charge of ensuring proper protocol is followed and to help establish consensus. •Each resolution has a “mover” and a “seconder.” Presented at Annual Meeting
17. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied •Discussion is kept brief and to the point. Each person can speak once to each resolution. •Amendments can be proposed that modify any part of the resolution. Amendments must have a “mover” and “seconder.” Discussion and Amendments
18. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied •The vote is called by the Resolutions Chair. •Vote is by a “show of yellow cards.” •Each delegate can vote yes, no, or abstain. •Delegates represent their local associations’ local votes. Local Delegates Vote
19. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied •Approved resolutions are forwarded to those designated (i.e. Minister of Education, School Board, etc.) for reply. •At the fall Semi-Annual Meeting there’s an opportunity for replies to be discussed and further action considered. •Become “PEIHSF Policy.” Approved or Denied
20. Drafted by Local Members or Provincial Board Submitted to Resolutions Committee Circulated to Local Members Voted on at Local Meetings Presented at Annual General Meeting Discussion and Amendments Local Delegates Vote Resolutions Approved or Denied “Thank you for this recommendation and I will ask my staff to make a request to have this capital line budget name changed.” The Minister replies...
21. Important Deadlines •Start talking about possible resolutions as soon as possible – at your next meeting! •January 31, 2014 is the deadline for resolutions to be submitted; but send them earlier to help in the fine-tuning. •By February 14, 2014 you will receive the year’s approved resolutions by email.
22. Resources •PEIHSF website at http://peihsf.ca/ under “About Us | Resolutions” •“How to Write and Present a Resolution” •Archive of past resolutions and responses to them. •Shirley Jay in the PEIHSF can help with drafting and fine-tuning resolutions.
23. Resolutions