1. School Site Council Greene Act Training Education Code § 35147
Financial planning and development
Financial planning, Monitoring and Accountability
The Greene Act establishes distinct public meeting requirements for Parent Advisory Councils and School Site Councils including English Advisory Council. Ed. Code §52176, 52852, 54425, and
The law was designed so that parent committee members can plan and confer with each other outside District Board meetings. The Greene Act does not authorize criminal prosecution of violations to Act. These more “user-friendly meeting requirements” were intended to encourage more parents – many of whom come from “ethnically diverse communities with limited English language skills” – to become involved in their children’s education and have a voice in decision-making.
The Greene Act has 8 key points and is written to ensure transparency.

2. SSC Responsibilities in Practice The Greene Act: Open Meetings
Any meeting held by a council or committee shall be open to the public.
Any member of the public shall be able to address the council or committee during the meeting on any item within the subject matter jurisdiction of the council or committee.
All Schoolsite Council meetings must be open to the public. Meetings must be physically open to the public and allow for public input.

3. SSC Responsibilities in Practice The Greene Act: Open Meetings
Notice of the meeting shall be posted at the school site or other appropriate place accessible to the public at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.
The meeting notice shall specify the date, time, and location of the meeting and contain an agenda describing each item of business to be discussed or acted upon.
Schoolsite council meetings must be publically noticed 72 hours in advance of the meeting. This is done by posting the agenda in a publically accessible place. The agenda must include the date, time and location of the meeting. It must also identify each item of business, including action and informational items.

4. SSC Responsibilities in Practice The Greene Act: Open Meetings
The council or committee may not take any action on any item of business unless a) the item appeared on the posted agenda, or b) the council or committee members find, by unanimous vote, that there is a need to take immediate action and that the need for action came to the attention of the council or committee subsequent to the posting of the agenda.
In the interest of transparency, all actionable items must be identified on the agenda. However, sometimes information comes to the attention of the council after the agenda has been posted. In such a case, the SSC may, by unanimous vote, add it to the agenda and take subsequent action.

5. SSC Responsibilities in Practice The Greene Act: Open Meetings
Questions or brief statements made at the meeting by members of the council, committee, or public need not be described on an agenda as items of business if those questions or statements a) do not have a significant effect on pupils or employees in the school or school district; or b) can be resolved solely by the provision of information.
The beginning of the meeting should be set aside for public or council comment questions related to items under the purview of the SSC. As such, it is not possible to identify items specifically on the agenda.

6. SSC Responsibilities in Practice The Greene Act: Open Meetings
If a council or committee violates the procedural meeting requirements described above, and upon the demand of any person, the council or committee shall reconsider the items at its next meeting after allowing for public input on the item.
In the event a procedure has been violated, the item in question shall be moved to the next meeting.

7. SSC Responsibilities in Practice The Greene Act: Open Meetings
Any materials provided to a school site council shall be made available to any member of the public who requests the materials pursuant to the California Public Records Act.
All meetings are public and any materials referenced during an SSC meeting is considered public as well. Please have a binder located in the office containing all materials from each SSC meeting and available to the public upon request.

8. The Greene Act: Public Comment is at the Beginning of the SSC Meeting
The agenda should contain:
Call to Order
Public Comment
SSC Business
Data Review
SPSA
Budget
DAC, DELAC, ELAC, & Other Committees
Please note, public comment is scheduled at the beginning of the SSC meeting in order to allow for discussion of pertinent information or questions related to items on the agenda prior to any action taken on these items.

9. The Greene Act: Best Practices
Notices and agendas should be posted in an area that is visible to all members of the school community, including parent s/guardians.
All meetings are live and open to the public
Electronic IS NOT Open
Distribute agenda to SSC members
Post the agenda in multiple locations and though multiple methods
If SSC meetings are on Mondays, have agenda distributed by Wednesday of preceding week
Avoid early morning SSC meetings
We have covered the legal requirements of the Greene Act. Remember to always post agendas and notices in a public place accessible to the entire school community and that all meetings are always public. Electronic meetings are not public meetings.
While not legally required, these best practices can help ensure a prepared and efficient SSC team. Distributing the agenda to SSC members prior to the meeting is helpful as well as ensuring that meeting times are convenient and allow all members to participate.

10. Contact Information
Finance
Debbie Foster – Executive Director
Financial Planning, Monitoring and Accountability
Thomas Liberto - Director
(619) (Phone)
(619) (Fax)
School Support
Dario Gutierrez (619)
(Areas: 1, 2, 3 Office of Secondary Schools,
Special Ed, and Transition Schools)
Mary Johnson (619)
(Areas: 4, 5, 6,)
Please contact the Financial Planning, Monitoring and Accountability Department for support.