Barrow County Schools Charter System Governance Training Overview May 27, 2011

Essential Questions: 1.What is the charter system governance structure for Barrow County Schools? 2.What are the roles and responsibilities for the different governance teams? 3.How do you conduct a SGT meeting? 4.What are the SGT training topics? 5.How do the school governance teams (SGT) get started?

Definition: govern Govern comes from a Greek word that means to “steer a ship.” The governance structure is intended to encourage each school to steer its work toward impacting student achievement. Schools will be permitted to make decisions and recommendations that leverage greater flexibility as granted in the approved 2011 charter petition.

Essential Question 1: What is the charter system governance structure for Barrow County Schools?

Governance Structure School Level Governance Teams (SGT) Cluster Governance Teams (CGT) District Governance Team (DGT) Board of Education (BOE)

School Governance Team (SGT) Members (7 to 11 members): Principal Parents and Business Partners Teachers Students (optional at elementary level) Assistant Principal (ex-officio member) Officers: Chairperson Vice-Chairperson Secretary Monthly Meetings, Use eBOARD, Open Meeting Act rules

Cluster Governance Team (CGT) Members: Chairperson from each SGT in the cluster Vice Chairperson from each SGT in the cluster Superintendent’s designee (Superintendent and Central Office Staff - ex officio) Officers: Chairperson Vice-Chairperson Meetings: minimum of 3 times per year, Use eBOARD, Open Meeting Act Meeting with District Governance Team 1 time per year Meeting with BOE minimum 1 time per year

District Governance Team (DGT) Members: Superintendent Executive Cabinet Chair of AHS Cluster Governance Team Chair of WBHS Cluster Governance Team Meetings: Minimum of 2 times per year, Use eBOARD, Open Meeting Act Rules Responsibility: Take recommendations to the BOE

Local Board of Education Maintain the rights and responsibilities in the Georgia Constitution May attend meetings but may not serve on School, Cluster, or District Governance Teams Will review recommendations made by the Superintendent/ District Governance Team –will determine if the recommendations are permitted by Georgia law and the terms of the Charter System petition –will vote on recommendations from the Superintendent and District Governance Team

Essential Question 2: What are the roles and responsibilities for the different governance teams?

SGT Membership Principal – chairperson ; must serve on SGT each year Parents – appointed by principal ; then elected by parents beginning may be employee of the school district but not employed at school can only serve on one SGT

SGT Membership (con’t) Business/Community Representative – appointed by principal ; then elected by parents & staff in Teachers nominated by leadership team & elected by staff can only serve on one SGT Students – elected by staff

SGT Terms of Office : Parents & business – 2-year & 3-year Teachers - 2-year & 3-year The number of teachers must be proportional to the number of parent/business members. If there are not enough parents/business members, principals may designate a representative to serve in that place and beyond: Parents & business – 2-year terms Teachers – 3-year terms

SGT Officers Chairperson: Principal first two years Preside at all meetings Sign all letters and reports Perform chairperson duties Prepare agendas Serve on cluster governance team Report district news to SGT

SGT Officers (continued) Vice-Chairperson Elected by SGT Must be a parent or business partner Substitute for chairperson if absent Preside over special committees as appointed Other duties as assigned Serve on cluster team

SGT Officers (continued) Secretary Elected by SGT Record minutes of all regular and special meetings Transmit true and correct copies of the minutes to members of SGT Provide all notices in accordance of bylaws Be custodian of all SGT records Keep register of SGT members Keep current and updated copies of by-laws Post all meeting information electronically on eBOARD Other duties as assigned

SGT Decision-Making The School Governance Team (SGT) can make decisions that do not impact the operations of the school system and/or other schools within the district and if the recommendations are permitted by Georgia law and the terms of the Charter System petition. Decisions made by the SGT must be submitted to the Superintendent for review.

SGT Decision-Making (Granted in Stages Based on Training) Year 1: Primary focus: training Make recommendations on the integration/expansion of the 5 areas of focus (Effective written and oral communication, Greater problem-solving skills, Greater critical thinking skills, Effective use of modern technology, Greater focus on 21 st century literacy skills) identified in the Charter Education Program. How does this link with Feedback, Assessment, and Differentiation? Make recommendations on the Balanced-Scorecard/School Strategic Plan

SGT Decision-Making (continued) Make recommendations on SACS district accreditation Make waiver recommendations Provide input in principal selection process Set additional rules regarding dress code and/or discipline (beyond Code of Conduct) Approve fundraisers and field trips

SGT Decision-Making (continued) Year 2: Continue training Continue year 1 decision-making Make recommendations for school-level budget Review and revise by-laws and make-up of School Governance Team

Essential Question 3: How do you conduct a SGT meeting? Thanks to Marietta City Schools and GSBA for slides on open meeting procedures.

Defines a meeting as a gathering of a quorum of the members – or any committee created by the members -- at which any public matter, official business, or policy is to be discussed or presented or at which official action is to be taken or recommendations on any public matter, official business, or policy are to be formulated, presented or discussed. Open Meetings Act

A quorum is comprised of a majority of the members. A majority of the members present, representing a quorum, must vote yes for a motion to pass unless bylaws dictate otherwise. Open Meetings Act

Your meetings are subject to the Open Meetings Act. All meetings are open unless specifically allowed by law to be closed. –Reasons and procedures “Open” means open to public attendance. It does NOT require that the meeting be open to public participation. What do your bylaws say about meetings? How does this work?

 Put simply, the Open Meetings Act requires that timely notice be given to the public of meetings.  Notice must cover the 5 W’s -- who, what, when, where, and why. Who, what, when, where, & why

If your bylaws specify when you meet, establish a calendar of meetings and publish it. Notice should include time, place, and dates of regular meetings. Notice must be posted and maintained in a conspicuous place available to the public at the regular meeting place. Called meetings require at least 24 hours notice. Notification Requirements

Post agenda at meeting site (and on eBOARD) as far in advance as reasonably possible and, at a minimum, at some time during the two week period immediately prior to the meeting. Items can be added to the agenda. Make the agenda available upon request in addition to posting it. Agenda

Make available a written summary of subjects acted on and members present to the public within two business days of adjournment of the meeting (post on eBOARD). Minutes must include at a minimum names of members present, description of each motion or proposal made, and record of all votes. Minutes shall be promptly recorded and open to public inspection once approved – no later than the next regular meeting. Minutes

 Anyone conducting or participating in a meeting in violation of the Open Meetings Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.  Any action taken in violation of the Open Meetings Act is not binding. The complete Act is in O.C.G.A through Violations of Open Meetings Act

Your records are public and open to the review of any citizen at a reasonable time and place. Response to a request for open records must be made within three business days. Reasonable charges may be charged for time and labor to produce and copy requested records. Open Records Act

Maintain a school-wide perspective Act with integrity and maintain confidentiality Regularly participate in meetings and training programs Encourage the participation of parents and others within the school community Work to improve student achievement and performance Making a Difference

Start on time Stay focused on the business at hand End on time Encourage participation, prompt comments Control interruptions and digressions Use parliamentary procedure Close the meeting positively Members should leave feeling their time was valued and well spent. Make Your Time Count

This formal procedure can be summed up as: –Make a motion –Second a motion –Debate a motion –Vote on a motion Parliamentary Procedure

Federal law State law State Board rule Local board policy Charter Bylaws Guiding Documents

Essential Question 4: What are the SGT training topics?

Preliminary Calendar of Training Topics for August – Balanced Score Card September – Adequate Yearly Progress October – SACS requirements November - Integration of 5 areas of focus December– Assessment January– Personnel February– State Board Rules & Waivers March – Finance/Resource Allocation April – Special Education

Essential Question 5: How do the school governance teams (SGT) get started?

Just Do It 1.Review the Barrow County Charter System Petition, pages Review governance training power point 3.Review handouts: a.the SGT members and roles b.chart of governance c.chart of decision making authority 4.Conduct an election & selection process 5.Submit SGT election results and meeting dates to Dr. Claire Miller by August 22, 2011

Questions Dr. Sherrie Gibney-Sherman