The education of the students in the La Cañada Unified School District is our primary concern. The education of these students requires the involvement and cooperation of the school, home, and community. The School Site Council (SSC) is organized as a School-Based Coordinated Program, and shall provide a means for this involvement and cooperation.
To examine the programs and priorities of the school and district by participating in the self-review process at La Cañada Elementary School (LCE), and, for specific topics, at the District level.
To promote mutual understanding and communication between parents and staff concerning the educational program for students.
The La Cañada Elementary School Site Council, established to participate in the School Improvement program, will:
A. Respond to directives and requirements of the State of California, as interpreted by the La Cañada Unified School District.
B. Assist in reviewing needs, setting goals, and writing the School Improvement Plan (Site Plan) cooperatively with the teaching staff.
C. When appropriate, consult with the staff to assist with the implementation of specified goals.
D. Periodically review the implementation of the
Site Plan, and participate in the assessment of the effectiveness of the
School Improvement program.
E. Consider the areas of need outlined in the Site Plan, update the Site Council budget to reflect changing needs and priorities.
F. Participate in activities which shall promote greater understanding of the school program, including Program Quality Review (PQR) at La Cañada Elementary School, PQR at other schools, and attendance at pertinent workshops and conferences.
G. Carry out all other Governing Board-approved duties and responsibilities required of the School Site Council by State or Federal programs.
A. Composition of the School Site Council
1. The number of voting members for the upcoming year shall be determined in February by the school Principal, consistent with subsection "a" below.
a. The Council shall be constituted to ensure parity between (a) the Principal, classroom teachers, and other school personnel and, (b) parents or other community members. The maximum number of voting members shall be fourteen as limited by the California Educational Code.
b. Classroom teachers shall comprise the majority of those persons representing school staff.
2. There shall be representation, within the limits of parity, of each school program required by the Governing Board to be included in the School-Based Coordinated Program. One of the parent members shall be a parent of an identified Gifted and Talented (GATE) student.
3. There may be representation of other programs within a school having student enrollment of designated numbers.
4. The following people will be ex-officio members of Site Council and will have voice but no vote, and shall not be counted to make a quorum:
the PTA President or designee
the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum
the District GATE Coordinator
a Staff Curriculum Council Representative
a Site L.C. Scrip Fund Representative
the Site Council Coordinator
The PTA President or Representative, and the L.C. Scrip Fund Representative (both parent volunteer positions) may not be prevented from holding Officer and Parent Member positions if they meet the other requirements of these by-laws. The Staff Curriculum Council Representative may be a teacher representative if he/she meets the other requirements of the by-laws.
5. Only one person from any one family shall be a voting member.
6. A roster of the membership and officers shall be presented to the Superintendent by October of each year and kept on file in the District Curriculum Office.
7. Parent Members may be employees of the school district if their children are enrolled at LCE.
B. Selection of Parent and Community Members (referred to as Parent Members)
1. At the February meeting, a nominating committee shall be formed to fill the slate of officers and special positions. The nominating committee shall include the Principal, the Site Council Coordinator, and interested parent members and alternates. A sincere effort shall be made to inform members of the Community and school parents of opportunities to serve on the School Site Council. Parents of pupils attending the school and other interested community members may run for Office or Parent Member positions.
2. Interested persons shall notify a member of the nominating committee, no later than a week before the March meeting. The Nominating Committee Chairperson will announce the slate of officers as well as the candidates for Parent Member positions at the March Meeting. At that time, anyone wishing to run for any office or a parent member position is welcome to add their name to the ballot for a specific position. The slate and Parent Member candidates shall appear on one ballot.
3. The ballot will be submitted to a school-wide election prior to the April meeting. Those parents of pupils currently attending the school are qualified to vote for Site Council positions for the upcoming school year. Each parent may vote for as many candidates as Parent Member openings.
4. At the April meeting, the Site Council Coordinator will announce the results of the election. The current Site Council will vote to accept the election results at the April Meeting.
C. Selection of Staff Members
1. The teachers at the school shall select the teacher members of Site Council.
2. Other school personnel at the school shall select their representatives to Site Council.
D. Terms of Office
1. Parent Members shall serve for a one year term. A Parent Member is limited to two consecutive terms plus a prior partial term as an Alternate filling a permanent Site Council vacancy. (See Article IV, E, 3) After one year off the Council, a qualified parent may participate in the ballot process to become a voting member again. There is no limit to the number of total terms a parent may serve. A parent may not serve as an Alternate during the year following two consecutive terms.
2. Term limits do not apply to the Principal and the current year Team Leaders. All other staff members shall serve no more than two consecutive one-year terms. After one year off, a staff member may serve again. There is no limit to the total number of terms a staff member may serve.
3. Terms of office shall begin June 1 and end May 31 of the following year.
4. Newly selected members shall serve as ex-officio members for the remainder of the school year in which they are selected.
5. Membership in the School Site Council shall terminate when a resignation is submitted, when the member no longer meets the requirements under which he or she was selected; or when a member is absent from three regular meetings during the school year.
E. Vacancies
1. Any vacancy on the Council, including the appointment of alternates, shall be filled for the remainder of the term on recommendation from the Council chairperson after consultation with the Principal.
2. The School Site Council shall confirm the appointment.
3. Alternate Members in good standing are eligible to fill the unexpired term of a voting member. If the Alternate becomes a full voting member on or before the October Meeting, the partial term counts as one of two terms. An alternate completing a shorter partial term shall not be prevented from serving two full consecutive elected terms immediately following the partial term.
F. Voting Rights
1. Each member is entitled to one vote on matters that are placed before the Council.
2. A proxy vote or an absentee ballot is not permitted.
3. Designated alternates may be asked by the chair to vote should a quorum be needed.
A. The following positions shall be filled annually in the Spring:
1. Chairperson: shall prepare the agenda with the Principal and SI Coordinator, conduct all meetings, certify whether the Council has been involved in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the program; shall appoint the necessary special committees to provide for effective operation of the School Site Council; shall represent the Council at the District Advisory Council, and fulfill other duties outlined in these by-laws.
2. Vice Chairperson: shall chair the meeting in the absence of the chairperson, and assume the chair should a vacancy occur. Should the Chairperson resign, the Vice Chairperson shall fill the unexpired term, subject to the confirmation of the Site Council.
3. Secretary: shall keep accurate records of attendance, take minutes, maintain a file of minutes in the school office, and perform all written communication for the Council.
4. GATE Representative: shall represent a GATE parent view at the meetings, but shall not be required to report to any group and is not responsible for supporting an opinion of any group. The GATE representative will also serve as a GATE Representative on the District Advisory Council (DAC). The GATE Representative must be parent of a currently enrolled Gifted and Talented (GATE) student.
5. Alternate GATE Representative: in the absence of the GATE Representative, shall vote at all Site Council Meetings. Should the GATE Representative resign, the Alternate GATE Representative will be appointed to fill the unexpired term of the GATE Representative, subject to confirmation of the Site Council.
B. Vacancies not previously mentioned: should the Vice Chair or Secretary resign before new elections are held, the Chairperson shall appoint a replacement to assume the office until the next regular election. The Chairperson may appoint a qualified GATE parent to fill an open Alternate GATE Representative position until the next regular election.
A. All meetings shall be open to the public, shall be held at regular times throughout the school year, shall be publicized, and shall provide a specific time for communications from the general school public.
B. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson in consultation with the Principal, or by a majority vote of the School Site Council.
C. Notice of all meetings shall be posted in the school office. Special meetings shall have twenty-four (24) hours advance public notice.
D. A quorum shall consist of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting membership, including designated alternates when necessary; not to exceed two such alternates.
E. Meetings shall follow Roberts Rules of Order from a prepared agenda.
A. All members of the School Site Council shall be accountable to the Principal and to the total parent group for recommendations relating to the specific charges of these by-laws. Each member may act as a liaison to his or her constituency, but should not necessarily represent any special interest group.
B. All Council members shall be present for the business portion of the agenda of each Council meeting to exercise their voting privileges. In the event a Council member cannot be present for a Council meeting, the Council chairperson or Principal should be contacted as soon as possible so arrangements can be made to assure the presence of a quorum.
C. Representatives to the District Advisory Council (DAC) bimonthly meetings shall be the school Principal, Council chairperson, GATE parent representative, and the School Site Coordinator.
D. The Principal is accountable to the Superintendent and to the Governing Board for a complete school program that is consistent with Board policies.
E. Final accountability rests with the Superintendent and the La Cañada Unified School District Governing Board who make the final decisions regarding participation in programs and endorsement of the final plans.
These by-laws may be amended at any regularly scheduled meeting of the School Site Council by a two-thirds vote, provided that such amendments have been submitted to all SSC members at the prior, regularly scheduled meeting.