SACS CASI

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SACS CASI

• Background
• Dedicated to advancing excellence in education
  worldwide, AdvancED provides accreditation,
  research, and professional services to 27,000
  institutions in 65 countries. AdvancED provides
  accreditation under the seals of the North
  Central Association Commission on Accreditation
  and School Improvement (NCA CASI) and the
  Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  Council on School Improvement (SACS CASI).

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SACS CASI

• The Accreditation Process
• To earn and maintain accreditation, an
  institution must
• Meet the AdvancED Standards and accreditation
  policies. (Five standards)
• Engage in continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate quality assurance through internal
  and external review.

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SACS CASI

• History
• SACS CASI was contacted in 2009 by stakeholders
  of the Burke County Public Schools. A Special
  Review team visit was held on August 2-4, 2009 in
  which interviews with stakeholders were
  conducted. From those interviews the Burke
  County Board of Education was found to be
  non-compliant with several standards and
  policies. We were given twelve actions to
  complete in order for us to retain accreditation.
  Subsequent visits were held on December 14-15,
  2009, May 10-12, 2010, December 6-8, 2010 and May
  23-24, 2011.

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SACS CASI

• History cont.
• Following those visits we received a report of
  the review teams findings and had to submit an
  Institution Progress Report, detailing what we
  were doing to correct the actions. Of the
  original twelve actions we only have two left to
  complete. The review team will return on January
  24-26, 2012 to see if we have completed the
  remaining two actions.

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SACS CASI

• Required action 1
• The Burke County Board of Education must be able
  to validate that all actions and behaviors of
  board members are fully aligned with the official
  board policies and all applicable AdvancED
  Accreditation Standards. (Three directives)

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SACS CASI

• Directives
• 1. Conduct a retreat, with an outside
  facilitator, to develop and implement a
  comprehensive plan for improving the
  relationships among the superintendent, members
  of the board and other school system
  stakeholders. Ensure that appropriate focus is
  given to the proper roles and responsibilities of
  board members, inside and outside the boardroom.
  A shared vision and commitment to student
  achievement must be clearly supported in the plan.

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SACS CASI

• Directives
• 2. Conduct an attorney-led review of NC school
  law, open meetings law, and other state
  requirements and responsibilities for school
  boards, and draft and sign a commitment to adhere
  to the Open Meetings Law and other state
  requirements and responsibilities for school
  boards.

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SACS CASI

• Directives
• 3. The superintendent and board chair will review
  with the school board attorney all agendas prior
  to board meetings, and the school board attorney
  will provide guidance to promote the efficient
  and effective actions of the board in conducting
  the meeting.

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SACS CASI

• Required action 2
• The Burke County Board of Education must develop
  a written plan including a timeline for the
  provision of training board members in effective
  boardmanship. Continue to review and educate
  themselves on the policy changes, particularly in
  the area of board and superintendent/management
  team relations in conjunction with this, develop
  and employ a written communication plan, which
  includes an implementation timeline for educating
  themselves, staff, and the public. (Four
  directives)

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SACS CASI

• Directives
• 1. The Burke County Public Schools Board of
  Education Commitment to Best Practices must be
  updated and approved by the board, communicated
  to all stakeholder groups through the school
  systems website (and other appropriate methods),
  implemented, and monitored.

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SACS CASI

• Directives
• 2. The Board and Superintendent must identify a
  parliamentarian who will document any infractions
  of the Burke County Public Schools Board of
  Education Commitment to Best Practices by board
  members.

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SACS CASI

• Directives
• 3. The 30 appropriate behaviors that have been
  adopted by a majority of the board, and included
  in the Burke County Public Schools Board of
  Education Commitment to Best Practices, must be
  included in the self-evaluation tool, which
  must be completed by all attending board members
  following every board meeting and used to develop
  strategies for additional board development and
  growth.

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SACS CASI

• Directives
• 4. The school system must develop, implement and
  monitor a comprehensive communications plan
  focused on improving communication and trust
  among and between board members, the
  superintendent, staff and the community. The
  plan should include the various strategies
  delivered across multiple mediums.

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SACS CASI

• Next steps
• Board training (School Board 101)
• Comprehensive plan for improving relationships
  (Handout)
• Communications plan (Handout)
• Continued focus on student achievement
• Continued review and revision of all practices
• Accreditation restoration