Parent power in action
Advisory committees amplify volunteers' voices in city schools
Daron Letts
Northern News Services
Published Friday, February 13, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The task of improving the city's education system does not end when the school bell dismisses students from class.
Mildred Hall PAC chairperson Jean Maguire brings out a warm dish during a community feast held in the school foyer earlier this winter. Staff and volunteers prepared 18 turkeys and other foods for students to enjoy at lunchtime. - Daron Letts/NNSL photo
Kindergarten students at J.H. Sissons in Yellowknife enjoy a dogsled ride at Beck's Kennels. Volunteers from the schools parent advisory committee helped supervise the field trip. - Daron Letts/NNSL photo |
Every month, a conversation advances between parents of students, school administrations and school board representatives during evening or lunchtime meetings of the city's 10 Parent Advisory Committees.
Parent Advisory Committees, or Parent Action Committees, (PACs) consist of volunteer parents and guardians from each city school who aim to improve the school community.
This may involve fundraising for teaching materials, organizing special events, developing extra-curricular programs, advising administration about parents' concerns and suggestions or even lobbying the territorial government.
"It's really important that education is seen as a partnership between students, parents and administration. One of the ways to encourage parents' engagement with their children's education is through the PAC," said Tina Drew, chairperson of the William McDonald PAC. "Parents know they have an opportunity and they know they have a voice."
Each individual parent-run committee is as unique as the school it serves. At William McDonald, Drew and her committee focus on providing policy advice and feedback to administration, and volunteer for activities organized by the school.
Meanwhile, other PACs, such as at N.J. MacPherson School, organize fundraisers to help pay for sports gear, field trips and school supplies.
"Fundraising is targeted so that any money raised is invested directly back in the school providing healthy snacks, better classroom resources or other areas as identified by the school," said David Wasylciw, N.J. Macpherson PAC chairperson.
According to a recent survey of PAC organizers by Yellowknifer, an approximate total of 50 to 75 participants typically attend the various PAC meetings each month throughout the school year. Attendance at individual PACs ranges from a couple of people to a dozen. However, the networks that support each committee involve dozens more volunteers.
"It is a great way to get a feel for the school culture and to get current news and information from the school board representative in a friendly environment. It is a great way to meet at a comfortable venue to raise awareness about community issues, to advocate for students and families who may be inadvertently marginalized by the system and to stay connected with the professionals and policies that are shaping our children," said Cynthia Russell, Sir John Franklin PAC chairperson.
In addition to addressing issues such as cell phone use and junior kindergarten, the committees are responsible for many of the fun and educational events presented at the city's schools throughout the year.
Parents and guardians who engage with their children's education also help chart the direction taken by administration, said Claudia Parker, superintendent of the Yellowknife Catholic Schools district.
"They provide important input into decisions that are being made regarding the programming or extra activities that are taking place in the school," she said. "They provide the voice of the parents."
The committees also help school administrations reach out to other parents.
"The PACs are instrumental in helping us get messages out to other parents and providing us support," said Parker. "All parents are encouraged to get involved because it's another venue for them to be able to get information in regards to what's taking place in the school while at the same time having a positive venue for them to provide their opinion or any concerns that they may have or any suggestions that they may have in regard to improving what's taking place for their child in the school."
Organizing school events alongside other parents also strengthens relationships among volunteers and teachers, said Tina Schauerte, St. Joseph PAC chairperson.
"It is such a feeling of togetherness and community when you get that gym full of children laughing," she said.
John Stephenson, board chair with Yellowknife Education District No. 1, said PAC meetings strengthen the relationship between parents and trustees while keeping the district informed about what is happening and what is of concern for parents at each school.
A different Yk1 trustee attends each of the PAC meetings held in the district, allowing them to update the rest of the board at its regular meetings.
"For the individual trustees, the PAC provides a direct connection to a group of very engaged parents as to what's happening in that school," said Stephenson, who chaired the PACs for J.H. Sissons School and Sir John Franklin High School before becoming a trustee.
"We all get a sense of what's happening at the different schools, if there's an event we need to pay attention to or if there's an initiative there, you name it, that's a great conduit to the schools in addition to what we hear from administration.
"It builds a net of information for the board about what's happening in our school district."
Chairs of Yk1 PACS, and any other interested parents, are invited to attend meetings with district superintendent Metro Huculak every month or so, Stephenson added.
"I always encourage parents to consider some way of getting involved," he said.
PAC meetings at city schools
Yellowknife Education District No. 1
- Range Lake North School Meetings: 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at the school
- Mildred Hall School PAC Meetings: 3:45 pm on the second Tuesday of the month at the school
- N.J. Macpherson School PAC Meetings: 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month at the school
- J.H. Sissons School PAC Meetings: 7:30 p.m. on the third Monday of the month at the school
- William McDonald Middle School PAC Meetings: 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at the school
- Sir John Franklin High School PAC Meetings: Noon on the second Thursday of the month at the school
Yellowknife Catholic Schools
- St. Joseph School PAC Meetings: noon on the first Wednesday of the month at the school
- Weledeh Catholic School Meetings: Noon on the first Wednesday of the month at the school. Attendance: Five or six parents
- St. Patrick High School PAC Meetings: Noon on the second Thursday of the month at the school
Commission scolaire francophone
- École Allain St-Cyr Comite de parents Meetings: Every six weeks
