School Community Council Overview

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School Community CouncilOverview
OrientationHawaii Department of EducationFor
Training Use OnlyOffice of Curriculum
Instruction and Student SupportSchool Renewal
and Redesign Section
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Objectives

• Provide an overview of the purpose of School
  Community Councils.
• Provide a road map to organizing your Council.

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What is a School Community Council?

• Forums for open discussion and problem solving
  related to student achievement and school
  improvement.
• School-Based Council composed of principal,
  teachers, non-certificated staff, students,
  parents and community members.

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SCC is composed of

• The Principal.
• And, at least one member of each of the following
  groups
• Teachers elected by teachers.
• Non-certificated support staff elected by
  non-certificated support staff.
• Student Representatives selected by the student
  council.
• Parent Representatives elected by parents.
• Community Representatives elected by parents.

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Membership

• School personnel cannot be parent or community
  representatives.
• Legislators, Board of Education members cannot be
  SCC representatives.
• Parents can be community representatives as long
  as they are not an employee of the school.

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Balanced Representation

• 50 of the members are from the school staff
  including the principal, teachers and
  non-certificated support staff.
• 50 of the members are parents, students and
  community members.
• 3 3 6 members
• If you add a member to one side, then you need to
  add a member to the other side in order to keep a
  50 balance.

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Why were SCCs established?

• Establishing School Community Councils at each
  school to provide a mechanism whereby key
  stakeholders can have a substantially increased
  voice in the affairs of their local schools.
• Required by Act 51 Part V- Community Involvement.

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Spirit and Intent of Act 51

• Strengthen the ties between school and community.
• Provide a voice for all major stakeholder groups.
• Create opportunities for collaboration and
  partnership in the educational system.
• Focus on a shared goal of improving student
  achievement and systems accountability.

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Elections Nominations/Voting

• The Principal is responsible for ensuring that
  elections are conducted fairly for each role
  group.
• Nominations should be conducted with evidence of
  a wide solicitation for nominees.
• Voting should follow the democratic election
  process.
• The SCC Bylaws should include the guidelines for
  the election process.

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SCC Bylaws

• The Bylaws provide the framework from which the
  Council will operate.
• The Bylaws cannot contradict the requirements in
  Act 51/Act 221 legislation.
• The Bylaws should be reviewed annually and
  amended as necessary.

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SCC Roles and Responsibilities

• The SCC is the trustee of the schools vision
  and mission.
• Acts as caretaker of the school.
• Functions in an advisory role.
• Practices good stewardship.
• Approaches issues from a unified perspective.
• Focuses decisions based upon what is best for ALL
  students.
• Contributes to the shared goal of improving
  student achievement.

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SCC Responsibilities include

• Review the Academic Plan and Financial Plan and
  provide recommendations including school budget.
• Review evidence of school progress on the
  implementation of the Academic Plan and Financial
  Plan on a regular basis.
• Participate in the principal selection and
  evaluation process (SCC Principal Survey).
• Submit requests for waivers to policies, rules,
  procedures and exceptions to collective
  bargaining agreements.
• Provide recommendations for revising or creating
  new school level policies and procedures.
• Provide opportunities for community input.
• Review principals determination of schools
  repair and maintenance needs.

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Waivers and Exceptions

• Waivers are to BOE policies, DOE procedures,
  rules or regulations, and to other state agency
  policies.
• Exceptions are to Collective Bargaining
  Agreements.

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BOE Policy 2412SCC Waivers and Exceptions

• Designed to enhance flexibility in order to
  facilitate school improvement.
• Aligned with the schools Academic Plan and
  Financial Plan.
• Demonstrates how it will improve student learning
  and increase student achievement.
• Reflects a consensus of the school community.

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Waivers and Exceptions

• All SCC Waivers/Exceptions requests for
  non-instructional days that impact the school
  calendar and other requests that require timely
  action/follow-up.
• Due Date 2nd Friday in Dec.
• All other SCC Waiver/Exception requests.
• Due Date 2nd Friday in March.

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SCC Waiver/Exception Approval Process

• SCC Educational Specialist or his/her designee
  will review the requests.
• Requests presented to SCC Exception Review
  Committee for recommendation.
• HSTA Exception Review Committee
• 2 HSTA Union members
• 2 BOE members
• HGEA Exception Review Committee
• 2 HGEA Union members
• 2 BOE members

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SCC Waiver/Exception Approval Process (continued)

• BOE representatives from the SCC Exception Review
  Committee present requests to the Full Board for
  approval.
• School administrator or CAS may be present at the
  BOE meeting for questions.

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SCC Meetings

• Effectiveness of meetings requires planning.
• Define the purpose of the meeting.
• Plan the agenda.
• Set the date and time limit.
• Establish and follow ground rules.

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Public Notice of Meetings

• Notices and agendas of SCC meetings must be
  posted in the schools administrative office and
  on the School Documents Online (SDO) website not
  less than 6 calendar days prior to the meeting.
• Minutes of SCC meetings must be posted in the
  schools administrative office and on the SDO
  website on a timely basis.

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Values of School-Based Shared Decision Making

• Supports a common vision
• Unites all members of the school community.
• Focus is on students and improved learning.
• Being informed and having a voice in shared
  decision-making.

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Decision Making Guidelines

• BOE SCC Policy 2411 requires the following
• Provide an outline of decision making processes
  that may be used by the SCC provided that each
  SCC decision making process includes a fallback
  procedure whereby the final recommendations of
  the SCC are made by majority vote, by the
  principal, or by some other method that is agreed
  upon by the SCC.

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Decision Making

• Decision Making Defined
• Voting majority rules, a simple majority of
  those eligible to vote is needed for making
  decisions.
• Compromise a collection of viewpoints are put
  together where most preferences are included in
  the decision.
• Consensus for the good of the whole based on
  the schools vision/mission. All view points are
  heard and the decision is supported by the group.
• Fallback from Consensus a fallback
  decision-making option can be prearranged if it
  is felt that the group may not be able to reach
  consensus. (for educational reform decisions, a
  vote of a large majority, e.g. 80 of
  participants, may be appropriate.) Once a
  decision is made, everyone commits to its
  implementation.

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Decision Making Considerations

• Focus decisions on what is best for all students.
• Seek involvement by the wider community.
• Support decisions with data and research.
• Become a learning community.
• Be aware of collective bargaining issues.

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Approval Process/Decision Making

• The Principal may set aside any decision made by
  the SCC if determined to be in the best interest
  of the school with notification to the SCC.
• The SCC may appeal to the CAS for resolution and
  if necessary, to the Superintendent and finally
  to the BOE.
• The Superintendent may recommend to the BOE
  dissolution of a SCC or removal of any member if
  deemed necessary.

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Resources for SCCs

• School Community Council (SCC) go to
• https//iportal.k12.hi.us/SCC/homescc.aspx?homet
  rue

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The Value of SCC Membership

• Become an important partner in the educational
  system.
• Contribute to the shared goal of improving
  student achievement.
• Have a vehicle through which to express opinions
  and share ideas.
• Be able to keep informed about what is happening
  at the school.

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In Summary

• SCCs play a vital role in the education system in
  Hawaii.
• Organize, plan and utilize the SCC Handbook II as
  a guide.
• Focus all discussions and decisions on whats in
  the best interest of the students.