2810 School Community Councils

Parental Support Washington County School District - Adopted 11-12-02; Revised-10-14-05; Revised 5-9-06

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1. Purpose:

The purpose of the School Community Council shall be to build consistent and effective communication among parents, employees and administrators, allowing them the opportunity to be actively involved in their children's education, helping to establish and implement educational goals for their respective schools

2. Policy:

Each public school, in consultation with the School Board, shall establish a school community council at the school building level.

3. Procedure:

Each school community council shall:

3.1. assist in the development of the Consolidated School Improvement Plan (CSIP) which should align with and include the following plans (as applicable): District Strategic Plan, District consolidated Student Success Plan (CSSP), School LAND Trust program, a staff professional development plan, a reading achievement plan for an elementary, accreditation and comprehensive guidance plans for a secondary school.

3.2. develop a child access routing plan in accordance with S.B. 167, Section 53A-3-402; and

3.3. advise and make recommendations to school and School District administrators and the School Board regarding the school and its programs, School District programs, and other issues relating to the community environment for students.

4. Composition.

"Parent or guardian member" means a parent or guardian of a student who is attending the school or whol will be enrolled at the school at any time during the parent's or guardian's initial term of office.  "Parent or guardian member" may not include a person who meets the definition of a school employee member unless the person's employment at the school does not exceed an average of six hours per week.

"School employee member" means a person employed at a school by the school or School District, including the principal.

Each school community council shall consist of school employees and parent or guardian members, and including the president of the school's largest parent organization, if there is one, or the president's designee.

4.1. Each school community council for a high school shall have six parent or guardian members, including the president of the school's largest parent organization, if there is one, or the president's designee, and five school employee members, including the principal; and

4.2. Each school community council for a school other than a high school shall have four parent or guardian members, including the president of the school's largest parent organization, if there is one, or the president's designee, and three school employee members, including the principal.

4.3. A school community council may have a larger membership provided that the number of parent and guardian members exceeds the number of school employee members.

4.4 . A school community council may have a smaller membership provided that:

4.4.1. The number of parent or guardian members exceed the number of school employee members and

4.4.2. there are at least two school employee members on the school community council.

4.5. Any action or decision the school community council will be made by a consensus vote.

5. Selection of Members:

5.1. Each school employee member, except the principal, shall be elected by a majority vote of the school employees and serves a two-year term beginning July 1. The principal shall serve as an ex officio member with full voting privileges.

5.2. Each parent or guardian member, except the president of the school's largest parent organization or the president's designee, shall be elected at an election held at the school by a majority vote of those voting at the election and serves a two-year term beginning July 1. The president of the school's largest parent organization or the president's designee shall serve as an ex officio member with full voting privileges.

5.3. Only parents or guardians of students attending the school may vote at the election.

5.4. Any parent or guardian of a student who meets the qualifications may file or declare himself as a candidate for election to a school community council.

5.5. Written notice of the elections held shall be given at least two weeks prior to the elections.

5.6. Results of the elections held shall be made available to the public upon request.

5.7. If a parent or guardian position on a school community council remains unfilled after an election is held, the other parent or guardian members of the council shall appoint a parent or guardian who meets the qualifications to fill the position.  If a school employee position on a school community council remains unfilled after an election is held, the other school employee members of the council shall appoint a school employee to fill the position.

5.8. The chair of the school community council shall notify the Washington County School Board of each appointment made pursuant to S.B. 167, Subsection (5)(e)(i) or (ii).

5.9. A member appointed to a school community shall serve a two-year term beginning July 1.

5.10. Initial terms shall be staggered so that no more than 50% of the council members stand for election in any one year.

5.11. Council members may serve up to three successive terms.

5.12. Each school community council shall elect a chair and vice chair from its parent or guardian members and elected employee members.

5.13. No more than one parent or guardian member or elected employee member may at the same time serve as an officer.

5.14. A school community council may create subcommittees or task forces to:

5.14.1.1 advise or make recommendations to the council; or

5.14.1.2 develop all or part of a plan.

5.15. Any plan or part of a plan developed by a subcommittee or task force shall be subject to the approval of the school community council.

5.16. A school community council may appoint individuals who are not council members to serve on a subcommittee or task force, including parents, school employees, or other community members.

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Distribution: Board Members, Superintendent, Associations, Assistant Superintendents, Administrators and Principals.