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29 . Can a school committee reject a council' s plan even if nothing in <br /> it violates current school policy? <br /> The law gives school committees final authority to approve the <br /> individual school plans : <br /> Each school improvement plan shall be submitted to the <br /> school committee for review and approval every year. If <br /> said school improvement plan is not reviewed by the <br /> school committee within thirty days of said school <br /> committee receiving said school improvement plan, the <br /> plan shall be deemed to have been approved. <br /> A clear and published set of school committee expectations <br /> regarding individual school plans can reduce the possibility of <br /> disapproved plans. <br /> 30. Are school council members public officials who are subject tp the <br /> conflict of interest law by virtue of their council membership? <br /> The school council statute is silent on this issue. In contrast, <br /> the previous statute on school improvement councils specified that <br /> all members of the school improvement council would be subject to <br /> G.L. Chapter 268A, the conflict of interest law. we are seeking <br /> guidance from the State Ethics Commission, the agency that oversees <br /> the conflict of interest law, and will publish the information we <br /> receive. In the meantime, council members who may have ,a financial <br /> interest (either personally, through their business, on through an <br /> immediate family member) in matters that come before the council <br /> for action, should request advice from local counsel or the State <br /> Ethics Commission before participating in such action: <br /> 1. Are the composition, role and functions of the school council <br /> subject to collective bargaining? <br /> To the extent that the composition, role, and functions of the <br /> school council are defined by statute, those matters are not <br /> subject to collective bargaining. For example, the statute <br /> specifies the proportion of teachers, parents and other members on <br /> the council, and the manner in which teachers are selected. It <br /> also defines the role of the council : to meet regularly with the <br /> principal and assist in identifying the educational needs of <br /> students in the school, reviewing the annual school budget, and <br /> formulating the school improvement plan. A school committee may <br /> grant a school council additional authority in the area of <br /> educational policy, but the statute makes clear that school _ <br /> councils shall have no authority over matters that are subject to <br /> Chapter 150E, the state law on labor relations and collective <br /> bargaining for public employees. <br /> t , <br /> 11 <br />