PTA School of Information: Working with your School Governance - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

PTA School of Information: Working with your School Governance Council

Korynn Schooley Department of Governance & Flexibility September 9, 2015

Our schools have diverse challenges Programs customized to unique needs of FCS students Decisions made as close to students as possible

Given our unique context, the District believes empowering local school communities will best serve FCS students.

Increased school decision-making will provide a stable, long-term framework for improving student achievement.

Local school autonomy

Theory of Action

SGCs work with school leadership and the community to:

– determine the long-term direction of the school, – design innovative solutions to increase student achievement, and – serve as school ambassadors to the local community

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School Governance Councils: governing bodies charged with setting the long- term vision for school

SGCs comprised of stakeholder representatives

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1 Principal (non-voting) 3 Parents/Guardians (elected) 2 Teachers (elected) 2 School Employees (appointed) 2 Community Members (nominated) + 2 Students (HS only; non-voting)

What do SGCs do?

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School Strategic Plans

School Strategic Plans provide long-term direction & vision for schools

• Long-term objectives, short-term goals, & strategic initiatives for

a 3-year period

• Collaborative, community documents
• School budgets, RFFs, Seed Fund requests aligned to strategic

plans

• Principal responsible for implementing plan; SGC responsible for

monitoring plan

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Why Engage in Strategic Planning?

Strategic planning is your school’s springboard.

Better Use of Limited Resources Transparent Decision- making

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Improved Student Outcomes Prioritize Efforts (Be Strategic!)

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What about Requests for Flexibility and the Seed Fund?

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Requests for Flexibility (RFF)

• Proposals to waive district and/or state laws/policies to

implement a school-based strategy

• Aligned with strategic plan
• Implications (personnel, budget, operations, schedule, etc.)
• 30-days Public Comment
• 2/3 School Governance Council approval
• Superintendent’s approval

Your schools’ strategic plan may lead SGC to propose a Request for Flexibility

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• Common RFFs include:

– Professional dev’t release days – Class size waivers – Instructional minute waivers – Personal fitness waivers – TAG model waiver

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RFFs to Date

• 58 RFFs approved (FY14 & FY15)

Seed Fund Grants Your school’s strategic plan may lead SGC to request a Seed Fund grant

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The Seed Fund’s mission is to empower Fulton County schools to create unique solutions, tailored to the needs

• f their communities, which result in improved outcomes

for students

• Funding appropriated by state legislature
• Managed by Fulton Education Foundation
• 1-year grants awarded based on rubric
• Minimum $2m/Learning Community over FY14-FY16

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Seed Fund to Date

South $2.81m Northeast $2.02m Northwest $1.64m Central $2.23m

• 82 Seed Fund grants

awarded over first two years

• Seed Fund distributed

$8.7m thus far

What does this mean for PTAs?

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Panelists:

Tara Spolan Crabapple Crossing Elementary SGC Chair Katha Stuart Roswell High School SGC Chair

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Create an “SGC Corner” in your PTA newsletter Use your parent contacts to gather feedback on strategic plan or RFF Ask SGC to provide updates at PTA mtgs

• r designate an SGC

liaison Serve on an SGC Committee Conduct joint SGC- PTA presentation during curriculum night Ask SGC what Strategic Plan initiatives need monetary support

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SGCs need PTAs!

Thank You!

Korynn Schooley schooleyk@fultonschools.org 470-254-3604

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