About

About

The District Parent Advisory Council of School District 57, know as “DPAC”, is the umbrella organization that brings together Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) in School District 57 – Prince George, Mackenzie, McBride, and Valemount.

The School Act states that a PAC, through its executive, has the right to advise the principal and staff respecting any matter relating to the school (except what is assigned to the school planning council).

The DPAC has the right to advise the school board on any matter relating to education in the school district. The DPAC should express its views after receiving feedback, wherever possible from the PACs.

What does DPAC offer PACs?
General Meetings:

  • PAC elected representatives (DPAC Reps) meet on the first Monday of every month September through June. We meet at 7:00 p.m. at the Van Bien Training Centre, 311 Wilson Ave. We strive to end by 9:00 p.m. Refreshments are often provided.
  • Meetings are open to all parents, but only DPAC reps can vote – one vote per PAC.
  • Regular attendees at our meetings are: Superintendent of Schools, the School Board Trustee liaison to DPAC, and representatives from the Prince George District Teachers’ Association (PGDTA), CUPE, District Student Advisory Council (DSAC), and Prince George Administrators’ Association (principals).
  • A meeting information package, consisting of the agenda, last month’s minutes and any reports are added to the website prior to a General Meeting.

Workshops and seminars:

  • Every year in late Sept. or early Oct. we hold a PAC Executives’ Orientation, usually an all-day session on a Saturday. Information sessions vary, but have included running meetings, minute taking, finances, leadership and this year School Planning Councils.
  • We send representatives to the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils’ BCCPAC Fall Leadership Conference and Spring Conference / AGM. We have subsidized PACs that send their own delegates as well.
  • We bring in speakers of interest to parents – these are often free and open to all parents in the community. We have had sessions on drug awareness, Internet safety and Brain Compatible Study Skills.

Representation:

DPAC has parent representatives sitting on a number of standing School Board, District and DPAC Committees, as well as ad hoc committees:

  • SD57 Education Programs and Planning Committee
  • SD57 Education Services Committee
  • SD57 District Safe Schools Committee
  • DPAC Advocacy Steering Committee
  • DPAC Advocacy Advisory Committee
  • District Associate to BCCPAC

Resources, information and support:

  • Written monthly reports from the above noted committees, at DPAC Meetings.
  • Monthly Chair Report on current district and provincial issues.
  • A file cabinet of resource manuals and information on issues, committees, previous years, etc.
  • Issues, questions or concerns forwarded to the DPAC Chair, are dealt with promptly. Contact can be made via email, fax, mail, and telephone. Action may be advice, referral to appropriate persons, or making inquiries to find answers. If the issue is one that we believe affects more than one school we email the question and answers to all PACs for information purposes. The issue may also be placed on the agenda of a General Meeting.

Advocacy:

  • We have a DPAC Advocacy Program, with volunteer advocates working under the BCCPAC Advocacy Project. Advocates help individual parents work through issues at the school about their children. Advocates supply information and resources, help brainstorm possible solutions, prepare parents for meetings and have access to two BCCPAC contract Advocates for further assistance and advice.
  • We supplied copies of BCCPAC’s Speaking Up! booklet to all PACs and have more copies available. The booklet is filled with information and has a Self-Help Guide.
  • The DPAC Advocacy Message line number is 250-564-3722

You can contact DPAC:

  • Through your school’s elected DPAC rep
  • Via an email to the DPAC Chair
  • By calling any of the Executive members.
  • Via school mail, marking the envelope with “DPAC”
  • By attending DPAC’s regular monthly meetings.
  • PG DPAC operates a email service that allows us to quickly communicate with the PACs. It is meant for us to discuss things, make each other aware of information and to share our triumphs. If you would like to subscribe to this service please see http://sd57dpac.ca/mailman/listinfo/sd57pacs_sd57dpac.ca