|
Purpose of Site Council
The primary focus of the Syre Site Council is to facilitate the continuous improvement of student learning. We do this by:
Change - Keep on dreaming the school and inventing it
Communication - Collaboration and deep listening
Keeper of the Vision - Nurturing a learning community
See Addendum A "Guiding Principles"
Council Membership
Ten Voting Members
4 Certificated - At Large
1 Special Programs
1 Classified
3 Parents - 2 At Large, 1 appointed by PTA
1 Principal
Selection Process - No Consecutive Terms
A. Parents select parents by:
1. Written application.
2. Sent to all parents and available at school.
3. Bio-application Summary with ballot - published in newsletter and sent to all parents for return by deadline. Majority of returned ballots elects 2 at large positions.
4. PTA selects PTA position.
B. Staff (both certificated and classified)
1. Self-nominate at staff meeting
2. Will be typed and distributed
3. Each individual has 6 votes - one per category
1 classified
1 special program (LAP, Resource, Psych, SBD, IA's & teachers' CDS, Inclusion)
4 certificated
C. Length of term - each term will be for 2 years.
Expectations of Council Members
Site Council Members will:
· Commit to upholding Syre Beliefs Statement and Learning Principles
· Place the good of the whole over individual concerns
· Focus on student learning as the purpose of the site council
· Be responsible to attend all meetings
· Commit to actively support site council decisions
· Communicate frequently, comprehensively, and meaningfully with constituents
· Listen to all sides of an issue
· Maintain confidentiality
· Objectively report the Site Council's decisions and rationale by which they were reached
· Annually revisit the Belief Statement and Learning Principles to ensure alignment of Council actions
Communication
1. Site Council Minutes will be distributed via e-mail, bulletin, office notebook.
2. Let's Talk Sessions: Following Site Council meetings, selected representatives will offer various meeting times to review what was discussed.
3. Announcements will be published by the communications officer in the Syre school newpaper.
Vacancies
If a vacancy occurs the Site Council will appoint a member for rest of year. Election will be held for the remainder of the term. Consecutive terms begin with election.
Meetings
Twice a month for an approximate total of 4 hours. Syre community members are welcome to attend meetings as observers.
Amending the Charter
· Changes to the Charter will be made by consensus of the Site Council.
· Any proposed changes wil lbe made available to the Syre community for comment for a period of thirty days.
Decision Making Procedures for Site Council
· Decisions will be made by consensus. See Addendum B.
· An 80% majority vote will be required for a final decision in the event consensus cannot be reached.
· If consensus or 80% majority is not reached proposal/focus of concern will be returned to referring groups for reevaluation.
· A quorum is defined as 7 of 10 Council Members as long as a parent is present.
· No decision can be made without a quorum.
Job Descriptions
Facilitator-
1. Set dates for meetings with Site Council (master calendar).
2. Review and prepare agenda with Site Council members and call for approval of previous meeting minutes.
3. Make sure all voices are heard by facilitating communication among council members.
4. Keep discussion focused and members on task.
5. Close with summary of current meeting and setting of next meeting's agenda.
Co-recorders-
1. Record meeting minutes icluding any decisions by the council and the agenda for the next meeting.
2. Distribute minutes to council members for review prior to approval.
3. Distribute approved minutes to Site Council members.
4. Maintain file of minutes, correspondence, documents, etc. in the Site Council Notebook, bulletin board and Web site.
5. This position will be staggered so that a new recorder begins with a recorder from the previous year.
Communications Officer-
1. Organize and coordinate the informational sessions for staff and community.
2. Coordinate "Let's Talk" subcommittee and manage the notebook.
3. Assist with newsletter articles for parents.
4. Publish the dates of the Site Council meetings.
Time-Keeper-
1. Coordinate with facilitator at beginning of meeting to determine time to be allocated on each agenda item.
2. Keep members aware of time constraints.
3. Arrange for facility and necessary meeting materials and clean-up.
Membership Officer-
1. Coordinate selection process for new members.
Last Update: 9/25/96
Site Council Charter
Addendum A
"Guiding Principles"
Students and Stakeholders:
A student is someone who benefits from our services, and we succeed to the extent that we add value to our students.
A stakeholder is someone who is effected by our services and who can affect a change in the way we provide those services. The primary Syre stakeholders are teachers, other Syre staff, parents, students. Secondary stakeholders are the Shoreline school district and the community at large.
Goals:
The best goals have the following characteristics; they are reflective of the Belief Statement and Learning Principles; they are student focused; and they are measurable. Therefore, we will strive to create goals for Syre which have those characteristics.
The Site Council and Stakeholder Input:
The Site Council is committed to receiving input from stakeholders on all important proposals and issues, and to responding to input, whether solicited or unsolicited, whenever possible.
The Site Council and Unpopular Decisions:
The Site Council reserves the right to make controversial decisions which are consistent with our purpose, belief statement and learning principles.
The Syre Site Council and Other Leadership Bodies:
The Site Council believes it has the responsibility to consider cross-site impacts of its decisions and is committed to receiving input from such affected entities.
Site Council Charter
Addendum B
On Consensus:
"Consensus is a state of affairs where communications have been sufficiently open, and the group climate has been sufficiently supportive, to make everyone in the group feel that he has had his fair chance to influence the decision. If there is a clear alternative that most members subscribe to, and if those who oppose it feel they have had their chance to influence the decision, then a consensus exists." (Edgar Schein)
Ground Rules of Reaching Consensus:
Awareness: the group should be aware that the consensus process will be used.
Understanding: the participants should understand the consensus process.
Student-focus: the participants keep as a goal finding and implementing what is best for the students.
Information/Involvement: the participants have had sufficient information and involvement to participate in the decision.
Disclosure: people state they feel they have been involved in the process, and are willing to share openly their reasons for disagreement.
Leadership: the leader/facilitator is responsible to see that the method for seeking consensus is used.
Support: reaching consensus implies that every member of the group will support the final decision
Last Update: 9/25/96
|
