SAC elections: Open leadership roles for 2026/2027

Want to help shape Dovercourt's School Advisory Council (SAC) this year? 

Volunteering in a leadership role within SAC is a fun and rewarding way to connect with, and give back to, our school.

SAC will be holding elections for leadership roles at the October SAC meeting, taking place on Tuesday, October 6th, 2026, at 6:00pm, in Dovercourt Public School's staff room.

The open positions are listed below, along with descriptions. Please join us and get involved!

Good to know: 

• You do not need any previous SAC experience to take a leadership role. We welcome new energy, experiences, and ideas.
• You can self-nominate for roles, or nominate other caregivers who may be interested in playing a more active role on the School Advisory Council.
• You don't need to be a parent to get involved. Grandparents, caregivers, and guardians are welcome.
• Most leadership roles can be shared. Bring a pal and split the job. Many hands make lighter work!
• The role can be what you make it. Concerned about time and responsibility? Many leadership roles primarily require attendance at meetings. It's OK if you only have a few hours to give here and there. There's plenty you can do.

If you're curious to know more, please come to our meeting on September 21st. 

Open roles for 2026/2027:
​
Co-chairs (Executive)
Available positions: 1-2
Led last year by: Deborah Aarts and Nicola Elbro
Responsibilities:

• Arrange for School Council meetings.
• Prepare agendas for School Council meetings.
• Chair School Council meetings.
• Work with Secretary to ensure that minutes of School Council meetings are recorded and maintained.
• Work with Communications lead(s) to ensure that the Annual Report is completed.
• Facilitate conflict resolution if and as required.
• Communicate with the Principal on behalf of the School Council.
• Consult with senior board Staff and Trustees as required on behalf of the School Council.
• Act as Joint Signing Officer.
• If and as required, act as ex officio member(s) of School Council (sub)committees and any school committees, including but not limited to School Budget Committee, school Improvement Plan Committee, School Staffing Committee and Caring and Safe Schools' Committee.
• Update the School Statements of Needs (SSON) in collaboration with parents/caregivers.
• Observe the School Council’s and/or the Board's Code of Conduct and these By-Laws.

Treasurer (Executive)
Available positions: 1 (+ 1 Alternate)
Led last year by: Matt Zulawski (alternate: David Rubinger)
Responsibilities:

• Act as custodian of the funds of the School Council.
• Handle receipts and disbursement of School Council monies.
• Keep proper records of all financial transactions.
• Arrange for verification of the School Council’s financial records in June of each year.
• Act as a Joint Signing Officer.
• Adhere to the financial protocol instructions outlined in the School Council Financial Guide.
• Prepare the annual Public-Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) report.
• Observe the School Council’s and/or the Board's Code of Conduct and By-Laws.

 
Secretary (Executive)
Available positions: 1 (+ 1 Alternate)
Led last year by: Kate Pilgrim (Alternate: Lisa Clapperton)
Responsibilities:

• Complete records of all meetings in a timely manner
• Assist the Chair/Co-Chair(s) in the distribution of minutes to all School Council members, ensure minutes, once approved, are available to the parent/caregiver body.  
• Responsible for the upkeep of all School Council social media and communications to the parent/caregiver body (e.g. blog, social media, email, newsletters, etc.).
• May act as a Joint Signing Officer.
• Observe the School Council’s and/or the Board's Code of Conduct and By-Laws.

 
Communications
Available positions: 1-2
Led last year by: Deborah Aarts, Adam Slight, and Paul Tichonczuk
Responsibilities:

• Creates and coordinates overall communications strategy.
• Manages SAC’s website, making sure that it is updated with current information on activities and events and our membership.
• Draft SAC content for SAC News and for Dovercourt’s Friday File.
• Website updates.
• Track community engagement with site (website traffic stats) and via volunteer signup form.
• Responsible for [email protected] account (i.e., ensuring any requests, questions sent to this address are answered in a timely manner).

 
Community Outreach & Ward Rep
Available positions: 1
Led last year by: N/A
Responsibilities:

• The Community Outreach Representative will be responsible for representing the school community’s perspective in the wider community generally, and more specifically at the Ward Council and, if applicable, with the local Trustee.
• Attend Ward Council meetings to represent the school and communicate information back to the SAC.
• Establish contact with trustee and with parent organizations (e.g. PIAC, People for Education).
• Help build partnerships and links between the school and organizations in the community to enhance educational opportunities for students (for example, the Boys and Girls Club, the SACs of other local schools).
• Bring in topical speakers.

 
Events Team
Available positions: 2-4
Led last year by: Lisa Kotsopoulos, Nahum Mann, Katie Piccott and Sarah Weaver 
Responsibilities:

• Helps lead on SAC-led activities (e.g. dance-a-thon, movie nights, Spring Fling, etc.).
• Organize in-class school spirit activities as well as remote/virtual events to engage the school community and achieve fundraising goals.
• General responsibilities: a) Review regulations re: fundraising and TDSB policies and advise council of any conflict in proposed spending and b) Develop a fundraising plan for the year, based on goals and priorities set by the SAC at its first meeting.

    
Enrichment
Available positions: 1-2
Led last year by: N/A
Responsibilities:

• Work with teachers, principal, and SAC to develop ideas for field trips, extra-curricular activities and educational programs.

 
Greening/Eco Team
Available positions: 1-2
Led last year by: Deborah Walsh and Sam Bigelow
Responsibilities:

• Responsible for enhancing environmental awareness of the school community and supervising school’s outdoor green initiatives.
• Key task: maintaining the school’s official ECO status.
• Greening Representative will be responsible for enhancing the environmental awareness of the school community and supervising the school’s outdoor green initiatives.
• General responsibilities:
  a) Assemble a group of volunteers to assist with maintenance of the school gardens, with a priority given to student involvement
  b) Attend Eco-Team meetings and assist with Eco Day events
  c) Participate in the annual Eco Schools Status Review process
  d) Maintain contact with the TDSB Eco Schools Department regarding new Board-wide environmental initiatives
  e) Keep abreast of advances in ecological/outdoor education
  ​f) Work with teachers to take advantage of opportunities to use the school’s gardens as a teaching tool and as an outdoor classroom

 
Division representatives
Available positions: 4-8 (1-2 per division, for four divisions):

• JK/SK
• Primary (Grades 1-3)
• Junior (Grades 4-6) 
• Intermediate (Grades 7-8)

Responsibilities:

• Lead engagement among parents/guardians in specific divisions
• Liaise between parents/guardians, SAC, and the school.

Community Representative
Available positions: 1-2
Past representatives: Dovercourt Boys & Girls Club, Oasis Dufferin Community Centre
Responsibilities:

• This position is appointed. 
• contribute to the discussions of the School Council.
• Represent the community's perspective.
• May participate on any School Council committee.
• Help to build partnerships and links between the school and the community.
• Observe the School Council's and/or the Board's Code of Conduct and By-Laws.

Past Chair(s)
Available positions: 1-2
Led last year by: Peggy Gibbons
Responsibilities:

• This position is appointed. 
• Advise new chair or co-chairs as needed.
• Provide assistance with transition of leadership as needed.

Role of all council members:

• Solicit the views of other parents/caregivers to share with the School Council
• Represent the views and the opinions of the parent/caregiver community.
• Attend and participate in meetings.
• Participate on School Council committees.
• Help participate in and to facilitate any events that the School Council holds during the school year.
• Observe the School Council’s and/or the Board's Code of Conduct and By-Laws.

​If you have any questions about any open positions, please email us at [email protected].

​Please consider putting your hand up! 

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