CARL SANDBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE
REVISED BY-LAWS – September 5, 2005
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of the organization shall be Carl Sandburg School Accountability Committee (CSSAC). The office and the location of all operations and affairs of CSSAC shall be at Carl Sandburg Elementary School, hereinafter referred to as Sandburg or the school.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The Purpose of CSSAC is:
1. To serve as the accountability committee at Sandburg as required by State of Colorado law.
2. To advise on significant school policies, procedures, and programs, including instructional programs.
3. To advise and make recommendations prior to decisions being made by the principal regarding school priorities, the school improvement plan, the annual budget, and staffing plans.
4. To enhance communications and collaborative input regarding key decisions.
5. To contribute to the continuous improvement of student achievement and to the realization of individual student potential.
ARTICLE III: RESPONSIBILITIES
The Duties of CSSAC are to advise and assist the principal in fulfilling the following Responsibilities:
1. To adopt goals and objectives for the improvement of learning at Sandburg and to increase the ratings for the school's accreditation category.
2. To participate in establishing school priorities in the development, implementation, evaluation (including strengths, accomplishments, and areas for continuing improvement) and distribution of the School Improvement Plan.
3. To make available an annual report on the actions of CSSAC and the effectiveness of education at Sandburg.
4. To expand the members' knowledge and understanding of issues by seeking additional input from other groups (e.g. Carl Sandburg staff, PTO, parents, community), as appropriate, prior to providing input regarding key decisions to be made by the principal.
5. To assist the principal in communicating the school's plans and accomplishments to the community.
6. To act in an advocacy capacity regarding issues of importance to the school community.
7. To provide a liaison with the Littleton Public Schools (LPS) District Accountability Committee (DAC).
8. To generally foster student learning and achievement at Sandburg.
CSSAC does not involve itself with:
1. The hiring, dismissal, supervision, or evaluation of school staff.
2. The determination of staff compensation.
3. The development of curriculum.
4. Interpreting the compliance requirements of state and federal laws and regulations.
5. Approval of contractual obligations on behalf of the school
6. Conduct of litigation for or against the school.
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERS
1. Membership on CSSAC shall consist of:
The Sandburg Principal, ex-officio member.
Six teachers/classified employees currently working at Sandburg.
Six parents whose children currently attend Sandburg.
The Sandburg PTO President or his/her designee.
Community members.
Business members.
2. Terms of CSSAC members shall be as follows:
A. The length of terms shall be two years, with the exception of the Sandburg Principal whose term is continuous.
B. Terms being filled mid-term shall continue through the remainder of that term.
C. Membership shall be limited to no more than two consecutive terms.
D. Membership terminates when the member's eligibility status changes.
E. CSSAC vacancies will be filled by a majority vote of the remaining CSSAC members
3. Election of CSSAC members shall commence as current CSSAC member terms expire. The terms of at least 3 teachers/classified employees and at least 3 parent members shall expire at the end of each school year. The term of either the community or business member shall expire at the end of each school year.
4. Selection of CSSAC members shall be as follows:
A. Parent and teacher/classified employee members shall be elected by their respective constituents in an election conducted during the first full week in May.
B. CSSAC shall actively attempt to recruit parent and business/community members to provide for diversity of backgrounds, e.g., gender, ethnicity, experience, and viewpoints.
C. Teachers/classified employees wishing to run for a position on the council are required to submit an application to CSSAC no later than the close of school on the third Friday in April. The application can be secured from CSSAC on or after April 1.
D. Parents wishing to run for a position on CSSAC are required to submit an application to CSSAC no later than the close of school on the third Friday in April. The application can be secured from CSSAC on or after April 1.
E. The Business and Community members will submit an application and be selected by a majority vote of the elected CSSAC members.
5. Those eligible to vote for CSSAC membership are as follows:
A. For teacher/classified employee members, all teachers/classified employees currently working at Sandburg.
B. For parent members, no more than one ballot will be distributed to each Sandburg family.
6. The election will be conducted by secret ballot during the first full week in May. Ballots will be distributed to all eligible voters, both parents and teachers/classified employees, on the preceding Friday.
7. Members who fail to attend three meetings within a given school year shall be contacted by the chairperson to verify their continued interest.
8. Members who fail to attend three consecutive meetings may be asked to submit their resignations to CSSAC.
9. The Principal of Sandburg shall be an ex-officio member of CSSAC. However, the Principal has the right to veto a decision of CSSAC if said decision:
· Violates federal or state law,
· Violates LPS policy, or
· Has a significant negative impact on Sandburg school policy.
10. Voting privileges shall be limited to CSSAC members only.
ARTICLE V: OFFICERS
1. The Officers of CSSAC shall consist of the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and DAC Representative.
2. The duties of the Chairperson shall include:
A. Presiding at all meetings.
B. Preparing the agenda for each meeting in collaboration with the Principal.
C. Making appointments to committees that are formed.
D. Providing adequate training along with a copy of these by-laws and other documentation to all new members.
E. Responsibility for reports made to the Board of Education.
F. Distributing the agenda to each member and posting same agenda at the school 24 hours prior to meeting.
3. The duties of the Vice Chairperson:
A. Presiding at meetings in the absence of the Chairperson.
B. Responsibility for clarifying procedures in keeping with Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised Edition when parliamentary issues arise.
C. Any other duties designated by the Chairperson.
4. The duties of the Secretary shall include:
A. Recording of the minutes and posting same minutes on the school web-site and in the school newsletter.
B. Distributing minutes to each member and posting same minutes at the school 24 hours prior to meeting.
C. Signing up visitors to speak to an agenda item or non-agenda item.
D. Any other duties designated by the Chairperson.
5. The duties of the DAC Representative shall include:
A. Serving as the CSSAC Representative at the DAC meetings.
B. Reporting the activities of CSSAC to DAC and reporting the activities of DAC to CSSAC.
6. Officers shall be elected annually at the first regular meeting in September. The chair-elect will take office at the September meeting.
7. A vacancy occurring in any office shall be elected from the existing membership at the first meeting following the notification of the vacancy.
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
1. Meeting dates for the school year will be established each September. The September meeting date and agenda shall be established in May.
2. Meetings shall be open to the public.
3. Minutes shall be maintained and distributed.
4. Regularly scheduled monthly meetings shall be held the months of September through May, based on the school calendar.
5. Proposed agenda items are to be submitted to the chairperson or the principal at least five working days before a CSSAC meeting.
6. Visitors:
· May sign up in advance to speak to an agenda item for three minutes and may speak for another three minutes following discussion by the members.
· May sign up in advance to speak to a non-agenda issue for three minutes, after all agenda items are completed.
· Upon majority vote of CSSAC, the three-minute rule may be extended to up to ten minutes.
7. CSSAC shall institute a practice of providing written notice of meetings by distributing the agenda to each member prior to the meeting and posting the agenda at the school in a prominent and consistent place for easy viewing no less than 24 hours prior to the meeting.
8. CSSAC shall institute a practice of providing written record of meetings by distributing the minutes to each member prior to the meeting and posting the minutes at the school in a prominent and consistent place for easy viewing no less than 24 hours prior to the meeting.
ARTICLE VII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
1. When a parliamentary issue arises, Robert's Rules of Order, Revised Edition shall govern the action.
2. A quorum shall consist of a minimum of 50 percent of the membership to make a recommendation, and two-thirds of the membership to change the by-laws.
3. When matters require a vote, a majority vote of those members present will rule (except for those requiring a by-law change). Voting matters shall include but are not limited to the School Improvement Plan, the Annual Report, the annual school budget, and staffing plans.
ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENT
These by-laws may be amended at any time by a two-thirds (2/3)-majority vote by all of the members of CSSAC.
Dated: ________________________________
___________________________________________
Chair