10 ways to get your meeting off to a flying start!

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10 ways to get your meeting off to a flying start!
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  1. Recruit - Get people involved! Encourage parents, the school community and staff members to come out to school council meetings. Everyone has a contribution to make to student success. And the experience of being a council member or attending council meetings can be very satisfying and rewarding.
  2. Communicate - Communication is the key to success. Establish open communications between the council and your school community. Take advantage of all the available opportunities to share information about your events and activities. The more people hear your message, the more interested they will be in your plans.
  3. Welcome - A warm smile and a welcoming attitude will help people feel at ease. Make a point of greeting newcomers and introduce them to members of the council. Include some social time in every meeting, so that people can get to know one another. Making people feel comfortable and involved is one of the best ways of building your council membership.
  4. Inform - Give parents the information they need to participate actively in school council meetings. Explain the purpose of council and the role it plays in student success. Outline the responsibilities of council members and the council executive. Let parents know how they can take part in council activities, even if they're not elected members of the council.
  5. Organize - Everyone appreciates meetings that are productive, efficient and well-managed.
    To run an effective meeting:
    1. prepare an agenda with time limits for each agenda item and distribute to members before the meeting;
    2. start and end the meetings on time;
    3. stay on topic and keep discussions to the timeframe indicated on the agenda;
    4. share information clearly and simply;
    5. listen carefully to each speaker and treat all viewpoints with respect.
  6. Guide - Set clear guidelines for your council meetings. Based on the Board's school council policy, decide how you will make decisions and resolve conflicts. Make sure everyone knows how to express an opinion, share ideas and arrive at a consensus. By establishing these guidelines at the beginning of the year, you will eliminate confusion and set a positive tone for your meetings.
  7. Share - Develop a common purpose. Discuss the best ways to support student achievement and the school's success plan and goals. Make sure everyone is aware of the school's mission, vision and values. People form a much stronger team when they understand the purpose and value of their efforts.
  8. Prioritize - Establish goals and objectives for your council based on the school's success goals and the Board priorities. By setting realistic targets, you will help council members stay focused on priorities. They will also get a real sense of accomplishment when they eventually hit their targets.
  9. Plan - Develop action plans for your goals and objectives. Assigning specific tasks and responsibilities, with defined timelines, will help you reach your goals - on time and on target.
  10. Record - Keep accurate records of your council meetings, activities and events. Distribute and publicly post minutes of each meeting as soon as possible after the meeting. You'll need them to prepare your annual report. They also provide a clear and detailed record of your decisions and plans. These records will help you document your successes and learn from your mistakes.
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