Welcome Principals School Council Training

2 Agenda  Why School Councils?  Who Are School Councils?  What Shall School Councils Do?  When & Where Shall School Councils Meet?  How Shall School Councils Work?  Other Legal Issues?  How Will School Councils Work Together?  What To Do First?  Questions?  Adjourn

Why? Why School Councils?

4 School Councils Working Together to Improve Student Learning!

5 Intent of School Councils  Bring Communities & Schools Together  Solve Difficult Education Problems  Improve Academic Achievement  Provide Support for Teachers & Administrators  Bring Parents into the Process  Assist Local Boards  Create Understanding & Mutual Respect  Share Ideas for School Improvement O.C.G.A (a) – Page 15

6 A ccountability to the Constituents  Maintain School-Wide Perspective  Participate in Council Meetings  Participate in Information & Training Sessions  Act as a Link Between Council & Community  Encourage Participation  Work to Improve Student Achievement & Performance O.C.G.A (k) – Page 17,18

7 Who? Who Are School Councils?

8 School Council Members Composition & Membership O.C.G.A (c) - Page 16 O.C.G.A (d) – Page 16 Term for Council Members (staggered terms (e)?) O.C.G.A (e) – Page 16 O.C.G.A (n) – Page 18 Office Vacated O.C.G.A (c) – Page 16 O.C.G.A (e) – Page 16,17

9 Election of Members & Officers Election & Selection of Members (August instead of May?) O.C.G.A (g) – Page 17 O.C.G.A (d) – Page 16 Page Officers of the Council O.C.G.A (d) – Page 16 O.C.G.A (j) – Page 17 Pages

10 What? What Shall School Councils Do?

11 School Councils Working Together to Improve Student Learning!

12 Roles & Responsibilities  Relationships Among … O.C.G.A (b) – Page 15  School Council O.C.G.A (s) – Page 20 (Delete section s)? Page 21,22  Principal O.C.G.A (r) – Page 18,19 Page 23,24  Board of Education O.C.G.A (p) & (q) – Page 18 Page 27,28

13 Roles & Responsibilities Relationships Local School Boards Superintendent Principal Federal DOE Supreme Court Cases GGAOthers State DOE Councils PTA Teachers Parents Community STUDENTS OEA

14 Authority of Council  Appoint Committees,Use Advisory Groups O.C.G.A (o) – Page 18  Appoint Business Person O.C.G.A (d) (2) – Page 16  Withdraw Member Due to Inactivity O.C.G.A (c) – Page 16  OEA Audits O.C.G.A & 36 – Pages 152 & 153  Distribute School Awards O.C.G.A – Page 153,154  State Board Interventions O.C.G.A – Page

15 Focus on Student Achievement & School Improvement Review & Discuss… Analyses of Available Test Data Analyses of Other Available Data School Improvement Goals & Plan Improvement Initiatives & Grants QBE Goals & Objectives Indicators of Quality Learning by OEA Make Recommendations for Improvement Pages 102,103,

16 When & Where? When & Where Shall School Councils Work?

17 Meetings & Training Monthly Meetings (Quarterly minimum?) O.C.G.A (f) – Page 17 Training O.C.G.A (b) – Page 15,16 Remuneration O.C.G.A (f) – Page 17

18 How? How Shall School Councils Work?

19 Bylaws Bylaws of the Council O.C.G.A (h) – Page 17 O.C.G.A (c) – Page 16

20 Quorum, Majority & Voting  Quorum O.C.G.A (d) – Page 16 O.C.G.A (f) – Page 17 O.C.G.A (m) – Page 18  Majority O.C.G.A (d) – Page 16 O.C.G.A (m) – Page 18  Voting  O.C.G.A (m) – Page 18 O.C.G.A (f) – Page 17 O.C.G.A (c) – Page 16 O.C.G.A (j) (3) – Page 17

21 Parliamentary Procedure  Definitions  Motions  Debating a Motion  Voting Page 50-52

22 Agenda & Minutes  Agenda O.C.G.A (r) (1) – Page 18,19 O.C.G.A (r) (6) – Page 19 O.C.G.A (e) (1) – Page 58,59 Page 87  Minutes O.C.G.A (l) – Page 18 O.C.G.A (j) (3) – Page 17 O.C.G.A (e) (2) – Page 59 Page 89-91

23 What Will Meetings “Look Like?” Meeting Ambiance Room Arrangement Protocol Decorum Visitors

24 Immunity  Immunity O.C.G.A (i) – Page 17

25 Other Legal Issues?  Open Meetings Act  Open Records Act  Confidentiality

26 Open Meetings Act  Meetings  Notices  Agenda  Minutes  Executive Session  Violations of the Act O.C.G.A Page O.C.G.A (f) - Page 17 Pages 54,

27 Open Records Act  Access to Records  Copies of Records  Time Requirements  Confidential Records  Violations of the Act O.C.G.A Page O.C.G.A (l) - Page 18 Page 62-64

28 Confidentiality  Student Information O.C.G.A Page 109 Pages ,  Personnel Evaluations O.C.G.A – Page 125,126

29 What To Do First? 1. Elect Secretary & Vice Chair 2. Adopt Bylaws 3. Set Yearly Calendar 4. Adopt Code of Ethics 5. Begin Working on …  Improving Student Achievement  School Improvement  Communications with Constituents 6. Prepare Agenda for Next Meeting 7. Review Checklist for Effective Councils 8. Dust-Off Your Leadership & Communication Skills!

30 School Councils … Questions?

31 School Councils Working Together to Improve Student Learning!

32 Questions to Frame the Work 1. What are our students learning? 2. How is my school performing? 3. Does the school organization maximize learning? 4. What are we doing to improve schools for teaching and learning?

33 Fayette County School Councils Congratulations!

WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? School Council Edition

35 What is the purpose of school councils? A) “…bring parents & community together with teachers & administrators…” B ) “…share ideas for school improvement…” C) “…create a better understanding of and mutual respect for…” educators & parents” D) All of the above

36 What is the training requirement for councils? A) Twice per yearB) Address laws, organization, rules, purpose, procedures, responsibilities C) Every year in July if members have not been trained D) All of the above

37 What is the composition of school councils? A) 2 parents 2 teachers 2 board members 1 principal B) 2 parents 2 teachers 1 board member 1 business leader C) 2 parents 2 teachers 2 business leaders 1 principal D) 2 parents 2 administrators 2 business leaders 1 board member

38 Who selects the parents on the school councils? A) Teachers & parents of the school B) Principal of the school C) PTA or PTOD) Parents of the school

39 Who selects the business leaders on school councils? A) Board & councilB) Principal & board C) ParentsD) Principal & teachers

40 Who selects the teachers on the school council? A) Board of education B) Principal of the school C) Teachers of the school D) All school employees

41 What is the term of the school councils? A) 1 year: July - June B) 1 year: August - June C) 2 years: July - June D) 2 years: August - June

42 When is a council member’s office vacated? A) Upon resignationB) Upon removal by the council C) If member no longer meets qualifications D) All of the above

43 What is not required for council meetings? A) Meetings held monthly B) Meetings held at the school C) Quorum must be present to conduct business D) Remuneration determined by board

44 Who are the officers of the council? A) Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary B) Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer C) Determined by bylaws D) Determined by board

45 Council members shall…? A) Maintain school- wide perspective B) Participate in information & training programs C) Act as link between councils & community D) All of the above

46 Minutes of the council meetings shall be…? A) Available at the school for public inspection B) Received by council members within 20 days C) Subject to the Open Records Act D) All of the above

47 The board shall…? A) Provide all information requested that is not confidential B) Receive all recommendations of council C) Respond to council recommendations within 60 days after notification D) All of the above

48 What is not a part of process to overturn a council decision? A) Public notice that board will receive recommendations, decisions … B) Council receives 7 days written notice prior to board consideration C) Board shall respond within 30 days D) Majority vote of the board overturns a council decision

49 Who is the chair of the school council? A) PrincipalB) Determined by majority vote of the council C) Determined by bylaws D) Selected by superintendent

50 What are the duties of the principal? A) Speak for the council before the board of education B) Communicate council requests for information to superintendent C) Serve as chair of the council D) All of the above

51 What is not required of principals? A) Develop agenda for each meeting B) Provide school allotment sheets to council C) Record minutes of each meeting D) Convene groups to select council members

52 Councils provide advice on? A) Use of facilities; budget priorities; school calendar; school profile B) Extracurricular activities; codes of conduct; curriculum C) School board policies; student achievement; early intervention services D) All of the above

53 What is council’s role in the selection of principal? A) NoneB) Recommend from a list of qualified applicants C) Interview top 5 applicants selected by superintendent D) Screen all applicants and recommend 3 to superintendent

54 Five affirmative votes are required for …? A) Adoption of bylaws B) Changes in bylaws C) Removal of inactive council member D) All of the above

55 Council members are accountable & shall... D) All of the aboveC) Act as a link between school & community B ) Participate in meetings & training programs A) Maintain school- wide perspective

56 Will the council work toward improving student achievement? A) Yes!B) For sure! C) Amen!D) Definitely!