What is a Site Council

  • Sitton Elementary School Site Council

    What is a Site Council?  

    Site Council is a group of administrators, teachers, and parents that identify ways to support the èßäÊÓƵ community. By providing leadership, direction and support, we define èßäÊÓƵ priorities and implement ways to improve them. At its core, Site Council is about tailoring the Sitton Elementary experience to the specific needs of our èßäÊÓƵ and our community.

     

    So you do what now?

    We review data, trends, and the things we hear from our community to ensure we design and implement programs that best serve the needs of our èßäÊÓƵ and community.  We’re actually mandated by the state to:

    1. Develop plans to improve the professional growth of the èßäÊÓƵ's staff;

    2. Improve the èßäÊÓƵs instructional program;

    3. Develop and coordinate plans for the implementation of programs under this chapter at the èßäÊÓƵ; and

    4. Administer grants-in-aid for the professional development of teachers and classified district employees.

    That means we have a say in choosing the methods and programs we use to teach the èßäÊÓƵ. We’re able to determine the types of programs we offer the èßäÊÓƵ community. And, we’re able to direct the ways and manner of our staff’s professional development.  If you have ideas about issues you’d like the èßäÊÓƵ to address, Site Council is the place to voice your opinion. If you’d like input on programs and curriculum at Sitton Elementary, come to Site Council meetings and have your voice heard. If you’d like a say in the kinds of professional development opportunities you’d like our teachers to have, express it to Site Council.

     

    School Site Councils were mandated in 1991 by the Oregon Legislature with the passage of the “Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century.” ORS 329.704 states:

    1. “There shall be established at each èßäÊÓƵ a 21st Century Schools Council.” [These are commonly called Site Councils.] “The duties...shall include but not be limited to:

      1. The development of plans to improve the professional growth of the èßäÊÓƵ’s staff;

      2. The improvement of the èßäÊÓƵ’s instructional program;

      3. The development and coordination of plans for the implementation of programs under this chapter at the èßäÊÓƵ;

      4. The administration of grants-in-aid for the professional development of teachers and classified district employees...”

    2. A Site Council “shall be composed of teachers, parents, classified employees and principal or the principal’s designee, as follows:

      1. Not more than half the members shall be teachers;

      2. Not more than half the members shall be parents;

      3. At least one member shall be a classified employee; and

      4. One member shall be the principal or the principal’s designee."

    3. In addition other members may be “...including but not limited to local èßäÊÓƵ committee members, business leaders, èßäÊÓƵ and members of the community at large.”

    4. Members of a site council “shall be selected as follows:

      1. Teachers shall be licensed teachers elected by licensed teachers at the èßäÊÓƵ site;

      2. Classified employees shall be elected by classified employees at the èßäÊÓƵ site;

      3. Parents shall be selected by parents of èßäÊÓƵ attending the èßäÊÓƵ;

      4. Other representatives shall be selected by the council.”

    Comprehensive Achievement Plan (CAP)

    To fulfill the mandate of the state legislature, the Site Council has developed and will approve a Comprehensive Achievement Plan (CAP). The Plan will:

    • delineate both long- and short-term èßäÊÓƵ improvement objectives;

    • include specific actions, specific personnel, and measurable outcomes.

    The Site Council will:

    • solicit input regarding the CAP from staff, parents, administration, èßäÊÓƵ, and community members;

    • closely monitor progress toward attainment of the objectives during the èßäÊÓƵ year;

    • review and revise as necessary the CAP each spring for the following èßäÊÓƵ year.