Summerhill College

Officers of the Student Council

The Student Council should appoint officers to run an effective Council.
Below are some suggestions for officers and their roles:

The Chairperson

· Is the chief spokesperson and officer of the Student Council;
· Calls meetings;
· Chairs meetings in a fair manner ensuring that all have an equal say;
· Has the casting vote if voting is divided equally
· Signs any letters, notices etc. that are issued by the Student Council;
· Liaises with school management;
· Ensures that the Student Council is run effectively and efficiently;
· Prepares the agenda for each meeting with the Secretary;
· Signs the minutes from the previous meeting with the Secretary, on acceptance.


The Deputy Chairperson

· Takes over the responsibilities of the chairperson when he/she is not available;
· Assists the chairperson in the organization of the Student Council;
· Accompanies the chairperson to meetings when necessary.The Secretary
· Prepares the agenda for each meeting with the Chairperson and in consultation with the other officers of the Council;
· Circulates the agenda to all members in advance of the meeting or at the start of the meeting;
· Takes minutes at meetings and writes them up;
· Distributes/reads out minutes from previous meeting and on acceptance, signs them with the Chairperson;
· Sends out letters and notice of meetings that will be held stating time and place;
· Ensures that everyone is aware that meetings are being held.The Treasurer
· Manages any funds raised by the Student Council;
· Keeps financial records in order and reports to the Student Council on the current financial status of the group;
· Makes a brief financial report at every student council meeting;· Provides the Council and Board of Management with a complete financial report at the end of the school year.As a general rule any payments made by the Treasurer should be countersigned or endorsed by another member of the Council or a teacher designated for this purpose.


The Public Relations Team/Communications Officers

· Keep the whole school informed about the activities of the Student Council;
· Keep notice boards updated;
· Help produce the Student Council newsletter, if the school has one;· Take lots of photographs of Student Council activities to accompany any reports or notices for the board;
· Promote good communications between the Student Council and students, teachers, school management and parents.
The PR team is responsible for making sure that the Student Council has a high profile within the school. The higher the profile of the Student Council within the school - the more successful the Student Council.

Student Council members should consider wearing badges or a different tie or something to identify themselves as Student Council members. Every activity of the Student Council should be reported no matter how small.

When the school population does not hear about what is going on with the Student Council, they just assume that they are doing nothing, which is far from the truth.