2013-KC COOMBS MIDDLE SCHOOL COUCIL

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PART THREEt SUGGESTED PRACTICES IN IMPLEMENTING SCHOOL COUNCILS A. Membership 32 . If there is no parent-teacher organization, what are some other ways of ensuring representativeness in the election of parent members on the council? Developing a process to elect parents to the council in schools that do not have a formal parent-teacher organization can pose a special challenge. In -these situations, schools can use the following strategies: • Request existing parents' groups, e.g. , Chapter I Parents Advisory Committees, Bilingual Parents Advisory Committees, and sports and booster clubs, to nominate candidates from among- their members; coordinate a run-off election from- among these candidates. • Hold elections at the conclusion or beginning of cultural assembly programs, school plays, open-house nights, or other educational or social events that bring parents into the school . • Hold "at-large" elections from among the parent body by . soliciting nominations through direct mail and school and community newspapers. Request that parents nominate themselves or others for membership on the council . This approach has been highly successful in generating volunteers . in some schools, a mail ballot run-off election has been necessary as there have been more volunteers than seats on the councils. • Invite all parents to a evening informational meeting at which the, school council is explained and parent council members are elected:-.. . . e Announce that elections will be held in conjunction with a forum, possibly with a respected guest speaker, on an issue of current concern to parents. Elect parent members. at the conclusion of the forum. 33 . Should council members serve for fixed terms? The law. indicates that the principal "shall have the responsibility for defining the composition of and forming the group pursuant to,. a representative process approved by the superintendent and thy' school committee. " 12