CUES

The purposes for school community councils are:  To build consistent and effective communication among parents, employees and administrators.  To allow parents an opportunity to be actively involved, with the school, in their children’s education.  To make good schools better.

Council Membership  Principal  Chairperson and Vice-chairperson  Parent/guardian members  Faculty/Staff members  PTA Officer  Other members as needed (non-voting)  Counselor (Secondary Schools)

Organizational Issues  The size of the council may be determined by each individual school principal as long as it meets the guidelines of the law.  The number of parent/guardian members must exceed the number of faculty/staff members including the principal.  A council member may be elected for up to three consecutive terms.

Size Guidelines  A high school will have at least 6 parent/guardian members and at least 5 faculty/staff members.  All other school will have at least 4 parent/guardian members and at least 3 faculty/staff members.

Elections  Elections may be held in the fall for the current year or in the spring for the following year at the discretion of the principal.  Elections are held at the school.  Parents/guardians of students who will have children at the school during the council year may vote in the election of parent/guardian members.

Chairperson and Vice-chairperson  The principal may not serve as the council chairperson  The council will elect a council chairperson from either the parent/guardian group or the faculty/staff group.  The council will elect a council vice- chairperson from the group not represented by the chairperson

Major Roles of the Council  Participate in the development of an ongoing school improvement plan.  Participate in the development of a Trust Lands proposal and budget.  Participate in the development of a school level professional development plan.  Advise the school administration on local school issues.

 Serve as the school curriculum review committee.  Serve as the building needs committee.  Provide an opportunity for issues of concern in the community to be presented to the school administration.  Review and act upon all applications for the formation of the student clubs  Review school U-PASS data

At Elementary Schools  Develop a child access routing plan.  Develop a reading achievement plan

AT SECONDARY SCHOOLS  Review and approve local school rewards and consequences related to school attendance and serve as an attendance appeals committee.  Serve as the comprehensive guidance advisory committee.  Participate in the school accreditation process.  Review and approve admission charges for school events.  Review and forward to the district any proposals for new courses to be offered.

The Role of the Principal  Ensures that elections are held as required by law.  Ensures that all reports and plans are submitted as required.  Provides access to school information and budget data that relate to the School Improvement, Staff  Development and Trust Lands plans. Makes U-PASS data available to the council.  Works with the chairperson in planning meetings and activities.

The Role of the Chairperson  Works with the principal in creating meeting agendas  Presides over all meetings  Ensures that meeting are held on schedule  Encourages the attendance and cooperative work of all members  Makes assignments and does follow-up

The Role of the Vice-chairperson  Assists the chair-person  Takes over the direction of the council in the absence of the chairperson

Responsibilities of Each Member  Make a conscientious effort to attend all meetings  Act in good faith for the benefit of the students and the school  Participate in the development of all required plans  Be a positive, contributing member of the council  Participate in other duties as assigned

School Improvement Issues  Improvement plans should be based on needs.  The school improvement plan includes the Trust Land Plan.  The Trust Lands Plan must focus on a specific academic need.  In high schools and junior highs, the improvement plan is part of the accreditation process.

And also:  School improvement should be sustainable.  School improvement plans should support the District Strategic Plan.  The school professional development plan should support and complement the district professional development plan.  Councils should review all available data as part of the plan development process.

What about open meetings laws?  Publish 24 hours before any meeting that decides anything.  Post 24 hours before at the anchor location.

Who is eligible to serve?  A parent/guardian who will have a student at the school any time during the parent/guardian’s initial term of office may become a candidate for election.  A parent/guardian who is also a school employee may not be a parent/guardian member but may be a faculty/staff member.  Any school employee may become a candidate for one of the faculty/staff positions.

What about unfilled positions?  If a parent/guardian position is unfilled after elections, the parent/guardian committee members will select a parent/guardian to fill the position.  If a faculty/staff position is unfilled after elections, the faculty/staff committee members will select a faculty/staff person to fill the position.

What if a PTA officer or school counselor didn’t get elected?  If a PTA officer is not elected to the council, one will be selected by the parent/guardian members of the council.  If a school counselor is not elected to a secondary school council, one will be selected by the faculty/staff members of the council.

Can the council appoint other people to work on sub-committees?  Yes, non-elected persons may be appointed to sub- committees or task forces to accomplish specific assignments.  The work of those groups should be overseen by the elected council members.

The School Community Council replaces all of the following:  The Building Needs Committee  The Comprehensive Guidance Advisory Committee  Attendance Appeals Committee  Trustlands Committee  Site-based Planning Team  School Advisory Council  Curriculum Review Committee