The Nootka PAC (Parent Advisory Committee) is the official organization of ALL Nootka parents. If you have a child at Nootka School, you are a Nootka PAC member!

Like Nootka School, the Nootka PAC addresses the needs and concerns of all three streams of students – Classic, Fine Arts and THRIVE. And, ALL Nootka PAC members are entitled (and encouraged!) to attend PAC meetings where they can discuss issues and ideas with other parents and vote on decisions regarding their children’s school experience. Also, a key component of Nootka PAC is to raise the funds necessary to maintain and implement key programs at the school.

Below are excerpts from the Vancouver School Board and Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council Handbook for PACs that provide more context on the history and purpose of PACs in British Columbia.

“In 1989, the provincial government enacted a new School Act that gave parents in every district across British Columbia the right to establish and belong to a Parent Advisory Council at their children’s school(s).”

“The concept has worked well… Parents and guardians have a strong voice in educational decision-making and they are more knowledgeable than ever with respect to school programs.”

“Topics on which PACs offer advice and assistance may include:

• school philosophy and program priorities
• school regulations and general student conduct;
• the curriculum, new instructional programs, facilities, equipment and learning resources;
• budget, alterations and renovations to facilities;
• safety programs and procedures;
• alternatives for identifying, communicating and meeting unique community needs;
• appropriate school evaluation matters;
• communicating ideas from the community to the board of school trustees and school staff;
• informing the community about decisions made at the school, district and ministry levels;
• methods to ensure racial and cultural understanding and improve the sense of community within the school neighbourhood;
• methods of resolving school-community differences and improving relations;
• the promoting of voter participation in school board elections, through nonpartisan methods (PACs do not favour or support any party or candidate; they simply provide open forums in which all candidates can express their views); and,
• methods to encourage other community individuals and groups who do not have children of school age to attend meetings to express their ideas and share their concerns. “

“It should be noted that the Parent Advisory Council is not a forum for discussion of individual staff members or students. Such discussions should be arranged privately with the teacher, principal or associate superintendent. ”

“All parents/guardians of children in a school are entitled to vote at the general PAC meeting. The principal, teacher representative and student representative do not vote.”