School Advisory Councils

June, 2007

Q. Please explain how the Bylaws were developed. Did the DAC Steering Committee draft them?

A.The SAC Bylaws are based on Colorado Statute, specifically Article 7 (Educational Accountability), Part 1, Local Accountability Program. The DAC Steering Committee, in coordination with Legal Counsel for the Board of Education, simply took the wording in state law and fit it into our Bylaws.

Q. Can I change/modify the SAC Bylaws?

A. No, not to Articles I-VIII. According to Article IX, additional articles may be added, subject to the procedures and limitations so noted.

Q. I remember that SAC parent/teacher membership could be based on a 3:1 ratio.. is that still applicable?

A. No. The current Bylaws have eliminated that option. Voting membership is limited to only seven members as outlined in the SAC Bylaws. Non-voting membership is an individual school decision.

Q. What if I have three parent openings and only three candidates… do I still need to have an election?

A. Yes. The Statute says that the parents must be elected. The candidates (in this example) would simply run unopposed.

Q. Why can’t a retired person be the ‘community member’?

A. The Colorado Statute requires, “a business person from the community”. Our Board of Education interpreted this to mean— a business person is defined as a person who lives in Douglas County and who is either self-employed or employed by a business or organization and who does not have children at the school (SAC Bylaws, Article IV).

Q. What does ‘one adult designated by a recognized Parent-Teacher-Student Organization’ mean?

A. A parent who is a member of your school’s PTO, PTA, or Foundation Chapter. If the school has no such organization, then a parent who is actively involved in volunteering and school fundraising.

Q. What about the required quarterly topics… do they need to be addressed at each meeting?

A. Yes, at least quarterly. If there is no new information, that can be so noted in the minutes.

Q. Can one of the SAC feeder meetings be considered one of the SAC quarterly meetings?

A. Would recommend four meetings at the school, in addition to the SAC Feeder Meetings.

Q. Does the DAC Representative need to be a voting member of the SAC?

A. Yes. The DAC Rep could be any of the parents, the business person, or the PTO Rep.

Q. In Article III (Duties and Responsibilities), what does #6, #7, and #8 mean?

A. More information will be coming in this fall for SAC’s. At this point, focus on addressing the
other areas in the Bylaws.

Q Why do we have to have the SIP turned in on September 1?

A. This date is based on Colorado Statute. There is no flexibility for districts without submitting a waiver from the Colorado State Board of Education.

Q. The School Improvement dollars ($60/student) are based on what year’s pupil count?

A. The upcoming school year’s projected student count (i.e., October 1, 2007).

Q. What if the projected pupil count is either more than anticipated or less?

A. The money will be adjusted after the October 1, 2007 count. If a school has more students than projected, the dollars will increase; if they have fewer, then dollars will be given back to the District budget.

Q. Can this money be counted on?

A. Yes… projections take us out into the foreseeable future (at least 85,000 students).

Q. Will new schools be funded?

A. Yes. They will also be required in 07-08, to meet SAC Compliance Criteria to receive funding for 08-09.

Q. Do SAC’s ‘approve’ the spending of the School Improvement dollars ($60 override)?

A. No. SAC’s make recommendations to the principal. Final budget decisions rest with the principal.

Q. Will training be offered for SAC members?

A. Yes. There will be a selection of classes to attend this fall.

Q. How is the money “given” to schools?

A. It is automatically included in the budget allocation received in the spring of each year.

Q. Can a Charter School’s Governing Board also serve as their SAC?

A. Probably not. The composition of the SAC, as required by Statute, is normally not aligned with the composition of a Governing Board. However, should the Governing Board meet the membership and election criteria, the meetings should not be held simultaneously (i.e., one meeting ought to adjourn and then the committee reconvene for the other meeting). There is no prohibition from a charter board member also being on the SAC.