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13 . What is the reason for parity in representation among parents, <br /> community members, and school professionals? <br /> The provision of "parity" is based on the experience of the Chapter <br /> lee school improvement councils and the national research on <br /> effective school-community, councils. Research on small group <br /> dynamics in groups that mix lay people (e.g. , parents) and <br /> professionals has shown that when lay people are outnumbered they <br /> are not likely to articulate their special perspective as <br /> "customers" of the. school . "Parity" provides a critical mass in <br /> which parents can feel comfortable in expressing their views while <br /> educators retain a strong voice on the council . <br /> in situations in which differences of opinion are split along lay- <br /> professional lines, "parity" creates pressure for compromising and <br /> reaching consensus, since neither side can override the other with <br /> its numerical majority. _V <br /> 14. What is the term of office for council members? <br /> The legislation is silent on this issue, leaving it up to the , <br /> individual principals to make this determination. For a discussion <br /> of the knowledge-base on effective school council functioning in <br /> the area of open-ended versus fixed, terms of office, please see <br /> Question 33, below. <br /> 15. Can non-classroom based school professionals serve in the •teacher• ' <br /> membership category on the council? <br /> Yes, if they are selected by the faculty at the school. Other <br /> profesaional personnel -- resource room teachers, specialists, <br /> counselors, etc. -- provide services to students and bring another <br /> perspective to the council'e discussions and planning process. <br /> 6. Can -cthes school staff serve an the council and; if so, in ahati- <br /> membership category? <br /> "Other school staff" includes custodians, lunchroom staff, and <br /> others who are not education professionals. Like non-classroom <br /> based education professionals, these people can provide an <br /> important perspective on the needs of the school and its students . <br /> Other school staff, who are not parents, teachers, or students at <br /> the school, may be appointed to serve as council members. It is ) <br /> important, however, to maintain a balance so that the council' s <br /> "other person" membership category is not filled exclusively or <br /> even predominantly by school employees. .' <br /> LJ <br /> 5 <br />