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West Middle School Charter |
West pledge
We are the West family committed to achievement with mutual dignity and respect. The West family consists of students, parents, teaching staff, non-certified staff, administrators and community members.
Vision
In the spirit of teamwork, members of the West family are committed to quality teaching and learning. This is accomplished by creating a positive academic environment where meaningful goals are established; best practices are employed; performance is measured; and success is celebrated. Additionally, West Middle School is a school where each individual is valued; problem-solving approaches are utilized; and student achievement remains the highest priority.
Introduction
The Rockford Public Schools and its employees have agreed to start a site-based governance program. The purposes of this program are to:
- support and improve student achievement through a structure that includes students, employees, parents and the community; and
- to give the above groups more responsibility for making decisions.
Goals
At West Middle School the goals of site-based governance are to:
- include the entire West family in the development of the School Improvement Plan (addressing these areas--achievement, attendance, discipline, school climate);
- place decision-making closer to classroom level;
- create a school that responds to parents' and students' needs;
- improve the school's work environment; and
- help redefine the role central office plays in supporting West's effort to achieve the above goals.
Elected Committee
To accomplish the above, a Site Leadership Team (SLT) will be established at West Middle School. This will be an elected group from the West family that includes parents, community members, students, non-certified staff, certified staff and administrators. Each group will elect or select their own representatives to the SLT. All members will have an equal vote. In the case of students, they will be involved in an advisory capacity only.
Composition of the Site Leadership Team (SLT):
A. 11 members
- 1 - Principal (or designee)
- 5 - Certified staff members
- 2 - Non-certified: IEA elect 1 representative with 1 alternate (secretaries and building engineers),
AFSME elect 1 representative with 1 alternate (paraprofessionals and cafeteria staff)
- 2 - Parents: 1 traditional program/special education with 1 alternate
1 gifted program with 1 alternate
- 1 - Community - appointed by principal
- 1 or 2 student representatives from Student Council
B. When parent and non-certified alternates attend a SLT meeting in place of the elected representative, they will be able to vote and participate as the elected representative.
C. Non-voting student representatives will come to the site council meetings at a designated time (such as the first 10 minutes of each meeting). Students may submit items to be included on the agenda as any other individual or group.
D. Vacancies - Vacancies on the council are to be filled for the unexpired terms by election or selection from the representative group.
E. Terms of office:
- Parents - term will be for one year and may be re-elected
- Non-certified staff - term will be for one year and may be re-elected
- Community member - term for one year and may be re-appointed
- Certified staff - Initially, three members will serve a two-year term and two members will serve a three-year term. After the start-up year, terms will be for three years.
- Students - term will be for one year and may be re-elected
F. Elections for school-based staff will be held in the spring for the following year
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Process used by SLT:
A. The SLT will meet at least once a month during the school year, more if necessary.
B. The meeting schedule, agenda and minutes will be posted on the school calendar and on the website.
C. All meetings are open to the public unless the committee votes to go to executive session. Executive session discussions will be confidential.
D. Submitting agenda items:
- Obtain a form from the main office or communication group
- Return form to the chairperson at least five school days before the next SLT meeting
E. The SLT review and decision-making:
- Proposals shall be forwarded monthly to the SLT for review. After due deliberation, the SLT may take any of the following actions:
- Prioritize proposals
- Approval of the proposal by consensus or 75% vote (by voice or hand vote unless a voting member calls for a secret ballot)
- Approval with modifications from the SLT
- Referral to a designated group for review and/or further study
- Denial of the proposal
- Table the proposal for future action
F. Feedback
- Groups or individuals submitting proposals and (inasmuch as possible) all affected parties shall be notified by the SLT in writing within 5 school days regarding the SLT's action pertaining to the proposals
- Groups or individuals submitting proposals may forward to the SLT chairperson written responses regarding the SLT's action. Any such written responses shall be included in the information presented to the SLT at its next regular meeting.
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Job description
SLT members will:
- Prepare for meetings by reading the minutes and special reports, and by gathering information and completing assignments
- Gather information and ideas through the communication groups
- Establish priorities for school-wide improvements and organize special task forces
- Participate in all scheduled meetings and inform the secretary when unable to attend a meeting (excused absence)
- Be able to withdraw from the council upon written notice to the chairperson or be removed from the SLT if they have more than two unexcused absences or four excused absences
- Make decisions on recommendations from the task forces
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Groups established by the Site Leadership Team
- Communication groups will consist of certified and non-certified staff members. Each communication group will be led by an elected member of the SLT. Groups will meet monthly at the beginning of the regularly scheduled faculty meeting to disseminate information and to discuss concerns and ideas for school-wide improvements. If a faculty meeting is cancelled, the SLT will solicit information from staff through a voluntary meeting and/or by requesting written input. The parent and student representatives will use the parent and student organizations as their communication groups.
- Special task forces will be formed on the basis of school-wide concerns for school improvement. Each task force chairperson (not a SLT member) will be responsible for making progress reports and recommendations in writing to the SLT at least five days before the monthly meeting. Task forces will meet for the first time as scheduled by the SLT. After the initial meeting, they will determine their own meetings deemed necessary to accomplish the group's specific task. A recorder will be selected to take minutes of each meeting. (Minutes from each task force will be given to the designated SLT member who will serve as a liaison between the SLT and special task force.)
Selection of members for special task forces will be determined by the SLT through any of the following procedures:
- Recruitment
- Volunteer
- Election
Limitations of Groups The responsibilities of the SLT and of school governance will be specific, will address school-wide issues, and will focus on educational areas in need of improvement. The following areas will be restricted from consideration:
- Personal or individual issues
- Building Committee issues
- Issues at variance with established policies of local and state boards of education and other outside governing agencies
The focus will be on what West, as a school community, should do to better educate our students.
Final thoughts
- Everyone in the West family can be involved in decision-making.
- No one has to be involved.
- Once decisions are made, everyone supports the implementation.
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