The General Assembly requires that all public school systems in Georgia have school councils in place for the purposes of bringing communities and schools closer together in a spirit of cooperation to solve difficult education problems, improve academic achievement, provide support for teachers and administrators, and bring parents into the school-based decision-making process. All Effingham County Schools will hold elections for the upcoming year. Elections will be held to fill expiring terms, new terms and vacancies in unexpired terms. 
Each school council will consist of seven members. Members of the council include four parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school (two of whom must be business associations), excluding employees who are parents or guardians of such students, two of whom must be business persons; two certificated teachers, excluding any personnel employed in administrative positions, who are employed at least four of the six school segments at the school; and the school principal. School council members will serve two-year terms, and will attend four meetings during the school year. While the school council is designed to serve as an advisory group, members will have a broad range of responsibilities and will receive information to assist them in their duties.
The selection of the teacher and parent members occurs through an election process. School administrators will work with their certified staff to elect two teacher representatives. Each school will have a meeting for parents to nominate and vote for the two parent representatives. Parents may be nominated on the written form that will be sent home with students.
Voting for the school’s parent representatives will occur only at the school’s scheduled parent election meeting. Parents who have children enrolled at the school for the 2011-12 school year are eligible to nominate, vote for, and be elected as the school’s parent representatives. Parent representatives must be at least 18 years of age.
 Parent participation in this election process is encouraged. Parents should contact the school’s principal if they have questions about the school councils or the election process prior to the election meeting.
If you have any questions, contact the school’s principal.
The parent election meetings will be held at the individual schools according to the following schedule:

Blandford Elementary        Aug. 26    8 a.m.        Adm. Conf. Room
Ebenezer Elementary         Aug. 22    6:30 p.m.   School Media Center
Guyton Elementary           Aug. 25    8:30 a.m.    School Media Center
Marlow Elementary           Aug. 23    6 p.m.        Front Conf. Room
Rincon Elementary            Aug. 22    5 p.m.       School Cafeteria
Sand Hill Elementary         Aug. 30    9 a.m.        School Cafeteria
South Eff. Elementary       Aug. 26    4:30 p.m.   School Cafeteria 
Springfield Elementary      Aug. 23    6 p.m.        School Gym
Ebenezer Middle               Aug. 25    6 p.m.        School Cafeteria
Effingham Co. Middle       Aug. 23    6:30 p.m.   School Lecture Hall
South Eff. Middle             Aug. 25    4:30 p.m.   School Cafeteria
Effingham Co. High          Aug. 22    6 p.m.        School Media Center
South Eff. High                Aug. 26    4:00 p.m.   School Cafeteria