The mission of the Roanoke County Public Schools Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is to provide an inclusive platform for the parent voice in Roanoke County Public Schools (RCPS). The organization is in place to advocate on behalf of all RCPS children and their schools, collaborate with RCPS, inform RCPS policies, and provide education for parents on policies and issues as needed.
The PAC is noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan. No dues collection or fundraising occurs, and the organization does not endorse political candidates.

Three in-person meetings are held each year (fall, winter, spring) at the RCPS Central Offices. Additional in-person and/or electronic meetings may be called as needed.

The PAC consists of 29 members: one representative from the parent organization from each of the 27 schools, including the Burton Center for Arts and Technology, the RCPS community relations specialist and the RCPS superintendent. Each year, the 27 school representatives will select a chairperson and a secretary for the PAC. The name, email address, and phone number of each parent representative for the coming school year should be submitted to the PAC’s Secretary by the end of May.

At the beginning of each month the PAC chairperson will check in via email with each school’s parent organization representative for updates and potential topics for the next meeting. The PAC chairperson will provide updates to the superintendent via email or at school board meetings as needed.

The PAC chairperson will serve for a term of one year but may serve multiple terms. The chairperson will lead the in-person meetings and will check in each month via email with the parent organization representatives.

The PAC secretary will serve for a term of one year but may serve multiple terms. The secretary will record meeting minutes, keep the organization’s reports and correspondence, and keep the names and contact information of the organization’s members.

PAC representatives will be responsive to their school communities, attend the three in-person meetings, and communicate as needed with the chairperson throughout the year.
The superintendent and community relations specialist will secure meeting space, provide information and will serve as the liaison between the PAC and RCPS administration.

The selection of the PAC representative for the coming school year is determined annually by the governing board of each parent organization at the end of the current school year. This person could be the president or another designee, preferably a member of the parent organization’s board. The ideal person is someone who can commit to the position, preferably for multiple years to allow for consistent representation, attend the three annual meetings, and is willing to discuss and provide input on varying topics in a professional manner. The PAC provides valuable feedback and input on important issues impacting the school system and choosing representatives that best represent our schools will benefit the PAC, its mission, and our school system as a whole.