School-based Decision Making Training

2. Advanced School-based Decision Making TrainingA three (3) hour training for experienced members

3. OBJECTIVES After this training, council members will be able to… • Understand the statutory requirements of a council member serving on the school-based decision making council, • Recognize who is eligible to vote and run in school council elections, • Understand the minority election process, • Explore what reasons constitute the removal of a council member, • Distinguish the budgetary responsibilities councils have and what decisions they have to make, • Determine what the council’s role is when allocating staff to school, and • Compare and contrast the two principal selection options.

4. Student Achievement The school council’s mission is to improve student achievement [KRS 160.345(2)c]. Each school council must create an environment in its school that will result in students achieving at high levels. All policies and decisions by the school council must contribute to the achievement of the school’s mission.   

5. KRS 160.345: The SBDM Statute • According to the statute, what makes a parent eligible to serve on council? • Where is minority membership referenced in the SBDM statute? • The principal selection process has two approaches. Describe one of the methods in which a council may select a principal. • What does the school council determine in regards to funds the school receives from the local board?

6. KRS 160.345: The SBDM Statute • According to the statute, what makes a parent eligible to serve on council? A parent on the council shall not be an employee or a relative of an employee of the school in which that parent serves, nor shall the parent representative be an employee or a relative of an employee in the district administrative offices. A parent representative shall not be a local board member or a board member’s spouse. • Where is minority membership referenced in the SBDM statute? The reference is 2(b)(2). • The principal selection process has two approaches. Describe one of the methods in which a council may select a principal. The alternative method allows the superintendent to recommend a principal candidate to the council and the council can accept or deny the recommendation.If they deny, the process reverts back to the traditional method.  • What does the school council determine in regards to funds the school receives from the local board? The number of persons to be employed in each job classification at the school.

7. Training Topics • Eligibility & Elections • Minority Representation • Removal of Council Members • Budgets • Staffing Allocations • Principal Selection

8. School Council Elections • Teacher Elections: All full and part-time certified teachers, school counselors and media specialists are eligible to serve and vote. Must be elected by majority vote. • Parent Elections: Must have a student enrolled or preregistered to attend the school. Must be elected by plurality vote.

9. DO TELL! • What was missing from your election procedures? • How will including that/those protocol(s) help elections run more smoothly?

10. Minority Elections • Eight (8) percent or more student minority population • If minority representation is needed, the principal is responsible for… • Organizing a special election for parents to elect a minority parent representative and • Allowing the teachers to select a minority teacher to the council.

11. Did you elect a minority parent or minority teacher member in the general election or is the principal a minority? Does your school have at least 8 percent minority students? Minority Flow Chart NO YES NO Minority representation is not required. You will need to elect a minority parent representative and a minority teacher representative. Follow the steps on the next page. No other steps are required. YES

12. YES NO

13. Election Process

14. Removal of a Council Member

15. Removal Process KRS 160.347: A member of a school council may be removed from the council for cause, after an opportunity for hearing before the local board, by a vote of four-fifths of the membership of a board of education after the recommendation of the chief state school officer pursuant to KRS 156.132. Written notices setting out the charges for removal shall be spread on the minutes of the board and given to the member of the school council. KRS 156.132(1): The chief state school officer shall recommend, by written charges to the proper school authorities having immediate jurisdiction, the removal of any superintendent of schools, principal, teacher, member of a school council, or other public school officer as to whom he has reason to believe is guilty of immorality, misconduct in office, incompetency, willful neglect of duty, or nonfeasance. In the case of a member of a school council, the written charges shall be provide to the local board of education.

16. BUDGETS • Councils work within the budget to make decisions on the following: • Staffing • Instructional supplies • Professional development • Textbooks • Use of activity funds (when those are the purview of the council)

17. Roles in School Council Budgeting • District Personnel • School Council • Principal • Teachers Who does what?

18. Roles in School Council Budgeting

19. Section 6 Funds • What are Section 6 funds? • Information on Section 6 funds can be found in 702 KAR 3:246. The formula for Section 6 funds is 3.5% of the SEEK Base (currently $4,000). • What are they traditionally known as? • Section 6 funds are commonly referred to as instructional supply money. These funds are allocated to school councils to use for the instructional needs of the school.

20. Section 6 Funds Allowable or Unallowable? Attendance incentives such as t-shirts, parties, or non-instructional field trips

21. Section 6 Funds Allowable or Unallowable? Registration fees

22. Section 6 Funds Allowable or Unallowable? General instructional supplies

23. Section 6 Funds Allowable or Unallowable? Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, controlled substances and weapons

24. Section 6 Funds Allowable or Unallowable? Stipends

25. Section 6 Funds Allowable or Unallowable? Any purchase that benefits the adult sponsors or district personnel of a student organization

26. Section 6 Funds Allowable or Unallowable? Repairs and maintenance

27. Section 6 Funds Allowable or Unallowable? Supplemental books and curriculum

28. Section 6 Funds Allowable or Unallowable? Gifts, services, or donations to district employees or external support/booster organizations

29. Section 6 Funds Allowable or Unallowable? Parent involvement

30. Section 6 Funds Allowable or Unallowable? Instructional field trips

31. Section 6 Funds Allowable or Unallowable? Loans to employees, parents, students, or sponsors of organizations for any reason

32. Section 6 Funds Allowable or Unallowable? Tech-related supplies

33. Section 6 Funds Allowable or Unallowable? Copier rentals or other rentals

34. Staffing Process • Local boards of education approve districtwide staffing allocation policies that are subsequently approved and archived by the KDE. • Districts fund positions at ratios established in statute and must also provide funding for a principal, media specialist, and kindergarten assistants at a 24:1 ratio. • The allocation is passed along to the council and the council works within the parameters to determine the number of teachers per classification (i.e. 4 math teachers, 2 Spanish teachers, etc…).

35. KRS 157.360(5)(a) Except for those schools which have implemented school-based decision making, the commissioner of education shall enforce maximum class sizes for every academic course requirement in all grades except in vocal and instrumental music, and physical education classes. Except as provided in subsection (6) of this section, the maximum number of pupils enrolled in a class shall be as follows: 1. 24 in primary grades (K through 3rdgrade) 2. 28 in grade 4 3. 29 in grades 5 and 6 4. 31 in grades 7 to 12

36. KRS157.360(5)(b) • Except for those schools which have implemented school-based decision making, class size loads for middle and secondary school classroom teachers shall not exceed the equivalent of 150 pupil hours per day.

37. Principal Selection • Councils opt for the alternative process and ask the superintendent to recommend a candidate and the council has the option to interview the candidate and accept him/her as principal OR • Superintendent and council consider applicants and the council selects the candidate by majority vote (traditional process).

38. Original Process Alternative Process

40. Next Steps • Next Steps • Final Reflection • Evaluation • EILA