RATIONALE/OBJECTIVE

The Cobb County School District (District) recognizes that community partnerships enable the District and individual schools to reach beyond their immediate financial, personnel, physical and curriculum resources to provide options for student learning that may not otherwise be available. The District also recognizes that community partnerships expose business and industry owners and employees, professionals and community leaders to the schools and the broad range of intellectual and social experiences that occur within them. Lastly, the District acknowledges that community partnerships help meet basic student support needs, thereby improving students’ ability to learn and raising their aspirations.

RULE:

A. MISSION:

    The mission of the Partners in Education Program is to establish and support partnerships

    that utilize community resources to enrich and extend the education opportunities for

   Cobb County students.

B. COBB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:

    The Cobb Chamber Partners in Education Program (Program) is coordinated by the Cobb

    Chamber of Commerce’s Education Department (Chamber). Contacts for the Program are  

    as follow:

    1. The Chamber contact is the Education Department Manager;

    2. The District contact is the Assistant Administrator, Office of the Superintendent.

C. PARTNERSHIPS:

    1. Establishing Partnerships:

        Businesses interested in becoming Partners in Education should contact the Chamber

        directly or indicate their interest to the Principal of the school with which they would

        like to become a Partner. Additionally:

        a. Partnerships may be established at any time;

        b. Partners do not have to be members of the Chamber; and

        c. Principals should review information regarding potential Partners in order to make

            informed decisions regarding the establishment of a Partnership.

    2. Partners in Education Coordinator:

        Principals shall appoint a staff member to serve as the school’s Partner in Education

        Coordinator (Coordinator). The Coordinator should:

a. Serve as the school’s contact person for the Partner;

b. Facilitate ongoing communication between the school and the Partner;

c. Assist in the development of Partnership Plan/s as described below; and

d. Schedule time and place for Partnership activities.

    3. Ending Partnerships:

        a. Partnerships may be ended by either the school or the Partner.

        b. If the Principal determines that a Partnership is not working for the for any reason,

            he/she should notify the Partner that the school will not be renewing the

            Partnership at the end of the school year or at another time in the discretion of the

            Principal with consultation with the Assistant Administrator, Office of the

            Superintendent. The Chamber will assist with this communication if requested by

            the Principal.

D. PARTNERSHIP PLAN:

    1. Each school participating in the Program collaborate with each of its Partners to

        develop a Partnership Plan (Plan). The Plan is valid for two years and should:

   a. Be viewed by both the school and the Partner as a starting point for partnership

       activities and should not limit the activities of the partnership;

       b. Highlight the most significant activities/contributions planned as a result of the

           partnership;

       c. Include at least one such activity/contribution per quarter of the calendar year;

       d. Anticipate that additional needs may arise; and

       e. Include activities that the school can do for their Partner as well as activities the

           Partner is doing for the school.

    2. Copies of the completed Plan are to be submitted to the Chamber of Commerce and

        the appropriate Area Assistant Superintendent.

    3. The Chamber will notify Partners and/or schools when it is time to renew the Plan.

E. EXPECTATIONS/LIMITATIONS:  

    All Partners in Education are subject to all Policies and Rules of the District and

    the school. These include, but are not limited to, the requirements found in

    Administrative Rule KI (Visitors to School); Rule KH (Solicitation and

    Advertising on School Property); and Rule KF (Use of School Facilities). 

Approved: 5/14/08