The Cobb County School District (District) shall implement school councils with the provisions of the A+ Education Reform Act of 2000.

RULE:

The superintendent shall appoint an employee to assist in the creation, training and operation of the councils.

A. DEFINITION AND ROLE(S):
School councils are intended to “bring communities and schools closer together in a spirit of cooperation to solve difficult educational problems, improve academic achievement, provide support for teachers and administrators, and bring parents into the school-based decision-making process.” (O.C.G.A. 20-2-85)

A school council functions as an advisory body, offering recommendations and assistance to the local school principal and, where appropriate, the Superintendent and Cobb County Board of Education (Board) on any matter relating to student achievement and school improvement. The management and control of the local schools shall be the responsibility of the Board.

In its advisory role, a school council may address topics including, but not limited to the following:
    1. School calendar;
    2. School codes for conduct and dress;
    3. Curriculum, program goals, and priorities;
    4. The responses of the school to audits of the school as conducted by the Governor’s
        Office of Student Achievement.
    5. Preparation and distribution to the community of a school profile which shall contain
        data as identified by the council to describe the academic performance, academic
        progress, services, awards, interventions, environment, and other such data as the
        council deems appropriate;
    6. In the case of a vacancy in the position of school principal, the recommendation of
        characteristics of a person that would best fit the needs of the school.
    7. School budget priorities, including school capital improvement plans;
    8. School-community communication strategies;
    9. Methods of reporting to parents and communities other than through the school
        profile;
    10. Extracurricular activities in the school;
    11. School-based and community services;
    12. Community use of school facilities;
    13. Recommendations concerning school board policies;
    14. Receiving and reviewing reports from the school principal regarding progress toward
         the school's student achievement goals, including progress within specific grade
         levels and subject areas and by school personnel; and
    15. The method and specifications for the delivery of early intervention services.
    16. In the event that the Cobb County Board of Education considers hiring or utilizing
         school administrative managers, it shall receive and give all due consideration to
         recommendations by the school council as to whether or not to utilize such position
         and as to selection of the manager.

B. COUNCIL PROCEDURES:
    1. Implementation of Councils:
        a. Each regular Cobb school shall have a school council.
        b. Charter schools, Oakwood, Central Alternative School and H.A.V.E.N. Academy are
            not required to implement a state school council. However, this exception is based
            on the condition that these sites must be able to show that parents/guardians,
            the business community, school staff, and where appropriate, students, have the
            opportunity through other advisory channels to provide input into school
            operations.
    2. Council Membership:
        See Form CFD-1 (Model Bylaws) for additional information about council membership
        and election procedures:
        a. Each school council shall consist of a minimum of seven (7) representatives, to
            include the principal, two teachers, two parents/guardians and two business people
            who are also parents/guardians of students in the school. Specific requirements
            regarding these members are as follows:
            (1) A number of parents/guardians, at least two of whom shall be business persons,
                 who are not employed at the school and so that such parents/guardians make
                 up a majority of the council ;
            (2) At least two certificated teachers, excluding any personnel employed in
                 administrative positions, who are employed at least four of the six segments at
                 the school;
            (3) Other business persons may be elected by the council from community
                 businesses;
            (4) The principal; and
            (5) Other members as specified in the council’s bylaws, such as, but not limited to,
                 students, staff, and representatives of school related support organizations.
                 Qualifying individuals selected under this provision may also count as
                 parents/guardians for the purposes of Section (1) above.
        b. The number of parent/guardian members must constitute a majority of council
            members.
        c. The council chairperson shall be a parent.

C. BOARD/CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT FOR COUNCILS:
    1. Model Bylaws:
        The District will make available to each council a set of local bylaws (Form CFD-1). A
        Superintendent-designated employee shall update these model bylaws regularly to
        reflect any changes made in the council statutes. Each school council may adopt
        this set of bylaws initially and then later amend the bylaws by a two-thirds vote of
        the membership.
    2. Training:
        Once each school year the District shall provide a training program to support
        schools in forming school councils and to assist school council members in the
        performance of their duties. The training shall address the following aspects of school
        councils:
        a. Organization;
        b. Purpose and responsibilities;
        c. Applicable laws, rules, regulations and meeting procedures;
        d. State and local program requirements; and
        e. Shall provide a model school council organizational plan.
    3. Support and Information:
        a. Support:
            In addition to the training described above, the District shall offer the following
            support to school councils. The District shall:
            (1) Designate an employee of the school system to attend council meetings as
                 requested.
            (2) Provide the school council all information not specifically made confidential by
                 law, including budget information, as requested.
        b. Request for Information:
            (1) School councils may request information from the District utilizing Form CFD-2
                (School Council Request for Information). The council chairperson shall submit the
                 request for information to the District-designated employee.
            (2) When received by the District, the request will be date/time stamped. The
                 school council coordinator shall provide the principal/council chairperson the
                 information within twenty (20) working days of the receipt of the request; or,
                 if the information is not readily available, provide the principal/council chairperson
                 a reasonable estimate of the date for making the information available.
        c. Response To Council Recommendations And Reports:
            (1) After study and consultation with the school community, a school council may
                 submit a recommendation or report to the Board and Central Administration for
                 consideration.
            (2) The council should submit its recommendation to the Superintendent’s Office
                 using Form CFD-3 (School Council Recommendation to the Cobb County Board
                 of Education).
            (3) When received by the District, the recommendation will be date/time stamped,
                 and the school council coordinator will notify the Principal and council
                 chairperson by e-mail within five (5) working days that the council
                 recommendation has been officially received.
            (4) Board of Education:
                 Board of Education Policy BC (Board Conduct) acknowledges the Board’s
                 intention to comply with applicable state law. O.C.G.A. § 20-2-86
                 offers the following guidance to the Board as it considers recommendations
                 it receives from school councils:
                (a) The Board shall respond to recommendations of the school council within
                     sixty (60) calendar days after being notified in writing of the
                     recommendation. Public notice shall be given to the community of the
                     Board's intent to consider a school council's reports, recommendations, or
                     any other decision of the council. Written notice of intent to consider such
                     council recommendations shall be given to the school council at least seven
                     (7) days prior to the Board's review of the council decision or
                     recommendation.
                (b) Prior to Board review, the school council coordinator, after consulting with
                     the Superintendent and the Chief School Leadership Officer, will assign a
                     council recommendation relating to a District procedure to the appropriate
                     division/department head for study and disposition. The division/department
                     head receiving the recommendation is responsible for responding to the
                     principal/council chairperson and for informing the Superintendent,
                     appropriate administrators, and the school council coordinator, who in turn,
                     will inform Board members of the response or suggested actions.
    4. Principal Vacancy:
        In the case of a vacancy in the position of principal the council may be asked by the
        Chief Human Resources Officer to submit a list of characteristics that would best fit
        the profile of an ideal candidate to meet the needs of the school.

D. AREA AND DISTRICT COLLABORATION:
    1. As needed, school councils within a designated geographic area or District attendance
        zone may meet as a large group so that councils might consider topics of mutual
        interest and concern. This session would count as a regular council meeting and
        would be appropriately posted to permit public participation.
    2. The District may establish a District-wide school council body, comprised of the
        council chairperson and one or more council representatives. This system-wide body
        would meet at least once annually to facilitate communication and planning among
        councils. This meeting would not count as a regular council meeting.

Adopted 9/10/03
Reclassified an Administrative Rule: 9/1/04
Reviewed: 10/28/04
Revised: 7/14/05; 10/11/06; 8/8/07