What is the St. Mark Advisory Council and what is its purpose?
The St. Mark Advisory Council is a body consisting of nine voting members elected by the school community plus two faculty members appointed by the Principal. All members serve a three-year term, with three new voting members elected each year. The Pastor, Principal and Vice-Principal are ex-officio members.

The purpose of the Advisory Council is to act in an advisory capacity to the Pastor and Principal in the areas of school policy, finance, strategic planning, operational effectiveness and promotion of Catholic education.

How does the St. Mark Advisory Council function?
The Advisory Council functions under the aegis of the Diocesan School Advisory Council. Council meetings are held August through May, and are generally on the third Wednesday of the month. There are seven primary committees that comprise the Advisory Council, and include: 

Finance - Assist the Pastor and Principal in preparation and management of the school budget, as well as recommendations regarding tuition collections. 

Public Relations/Communications 
Internal and external communication via council newsletter, website, newspapers and other mediums 
Management of Council elections
Monthly review of the school website to ensure content is current and relevant 
Dioceses political advocacy support 

Development - Develop and implement marketing strategies for key strategic programs (i.e. long-term financial stability such as the Guardian Angel Fund, teacher recruitment and market-driven salary structures). 

Technology - Continual updating and implementation of technology.

Athletics - Represent Advisory Council on school Athletics Committee which serves to assist the Athletic Director with maintenance and review of policy regulations for Diocesan sports programs.

Facilities - Assist the Principal in analyzing the facility goals and needs of the school.

Planning - Annual review and updating of the Annual plan, Customer Satisfaction Surveys, and policy review. 

 

Can anyone attend an Advisory Council meeting?
Monthly meetings are open to the parish community, unless otherwise stipulated. Visitors are to be observers only, and may be required to leave if the President calls for an "executive session". If a person requests a hearing, either on procedural or informational matters, a request in writing must be made to the President of the Council two weeks (14 days) in advance, presenting at that time a written summary of the subject matter to be discussed. All requests must be signed by the individual(s) submitting the letter and he/they may request to speak during the "Open Forum" section of the meeting.