that they continue to have a meaningful input into the education- 
     
     al decision making process at the government and Department of 
     
    
   
   
    
     Education level as well as at the School Board level. 
     
    
   
   
    
     REORGANIZATION 
     
    
   
   
    
     With the advent of the new units of school administration 
     
     in July 1972, the provincial executive felt that the county-based 
     
     organization of Home and School should be revised and a new 
     
     structure established that would facilitate communication be- 
     
     tween the local Home and School associations and the new 
     
     School Boards. 
     
    
   
   
    
     At the Semi-annual meeting in May 1972 it was agreed in 
     
     principle to establish five Area Councils, one for each Regional 
     
     Administrative Unit in the province. A committee was set up to 
     
     work out specific details of implementing this concept and to 
     
     present any necessary changes to the constitution. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Thus, at the Annual Meeting in October 1972, the concept 
     
     of Area Councils was formally adopted. Constitutional amend- 
     
     ments were approved providing for two Vice-Presidents from 
     
     each of the five Area Councils. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The duties and functions of the Area Council may be 
     
     summarized as follows: 
     
    
   
   
    
     1. to assist the local executive to: 
     
     a. operate in a concerted manner in the pursuit of 
     
     its aims, and 
     
     b. facilitate communications between the local ex- 
     
     ecutives and the School Board by organizing and 
     
     reporting on a unit basis; 
     
    
   
   
    
     2. to achieve parent involvement, the Area Council should: 
     
    
   
   
    
     3. encourage the participation of parents in all the 
     
     activities of the School Board, and 
     
    
   
   
    
     b. assist in securing members who may be required to 
     
     serve on various committees set up by the School 
     
     Board; 
     
    
   
   
    
     3. to assist the School Board, the Area Council would be 
     
     responsible to: 
     
    
   
   
    
     55