The
School Charter Plan:
6. DESCRIPTION OF FOUNDING/MANAGEMENT TEAM
6.1. Profile of Founding Coalition
6.2. Governance
Reference: SVRCS Development and Support (Attachment D)
6.1. Profile of Founding Coalition
In preparation for filing the charter of the SVRCS, the SVCC appointed a
Core Team to oversee the charter school project from the development of a
planning grant proposal until a board of trustees can be elected. Creation
of the Core Team allowed for incorporation of the SVCC while still providing
for a democratic election of members of the school's Board of Trustees. With
the help of an attorney and an accountant, appropriate documents for incorporation
and a set of bylaws have been developed for the SVCC.
The following were appointed to the Core Team to develop the SVRCS charter
and to serve as an interim Board of Trustees until a general election can
be held:
Executive Director - Nevin Conoway, Parent/Teacher
Administration Committee Chair - Maureen Albright, Teacher
Building Committee Chair - Deborah Nicholas, Business Owner
Community Relations Committee Chair - Janice I. Wagner, Parent
Curriculum Committee Chair - Andrea S. Hamilton, Parent/Teacher
Faculty and Staff Committee Chair - Nevin Conoway, Parent/Teacher
Finance Committee Chair - Crystal R. Miller, Parent
Many others were extensively involved in the planning and development of
the SVRCS charter. These include:
Julia Boone - SVCC Executive Committee Member.
Diane Breon - SVCC Executive Committee Member.
Gordon Breon - SVCC Executive Committee Member
Dr. J. Daniel Marshall - Curriculum Advisor from PSU, State College, PA.
William Mauck - SVCC Executive Committee Member.
Carla McElwain - SVCC Executive Committee Member.
Monte Shreckengast - SVCC Executive Committee Member.
Leroy Wagner - SVCC Executive Committee Member.
Six committees were created to work on completing the charter application:
curriculum, faculty and staff, administrative, finance, building and public
relations. The committees consisted of from three to eight members, often
meeting several times each week from January through May. The Core Team met
once each week to receive committee reports and finalize the charter application.
The Core Team, committee members and others active in the development of
the charter application, represent a wide cross section of the Sugar Valley
community. These individuals have stepped forward out of their desire to create
a small K-12 public charter school within the Sugar Valley area. They bring
diverse perspectives and resources to their task and are prepared to devote
the time and energy that will be necessary to fulfill the challenge of operating
the SVRCS.
The Public Relations Committee, in conjunction with the Curriculum Committee,
has contacted businesses in the community. Twenty-nine businesses are interested
in participating in a school-to-work program. Letters of support have been
collected from local businesses, organizations and municipalities. (See Attachment
D)
6.2. Governance
After an election is held, the SVRCS will be governed by a seven-member Board
of Trustees. The Board shall consist of two teachers elected by staff of the
SVRCS; two parents elected by parents of students enrolled at the SVRCS; and
two community members and one alumnus of SVAS elected by residents of the
SVRCS enrollment area.
The members shall serve by fiscal year with elections occurring in the Spring
preceding the first July of their terms. With the exception of the first election,
all terms will be three years. To provide continuity for the Board and new
school, some of the Board members elected in the first general election will
serve for one year or two years. The one year term members shall be a community
member and an alumnus. The two year term members shall be a teacher, a parent
and a community member. In general, elections will then occur every year on
a three year cycle; one for two Board members ,the second for three Board
members and the third for two board members.
Parents will be nominated by parents and elected by parents. Teachers will
be nominated by teachers and elected by teachers. Community/alumnus will be
nominated by members of the corporation and elected at an open election. During
the first year of operation, the present core team will assume the responsibilities
of the Board of Trustees until formal elections are held.
The founders of the SVRCS believe that the makeup of the Board of Trustees
is a vital extension of the School Community. Our governance model empowers
the persons with the most responsibilities and ownership in the "product"
of the school with the means to guide the school in its mission. By placing
both the fiscal as well as the education-related responsibilities in the hands
of teachers, parents and community members, balanced decisions can be made.
We acknowledge that existing or future charter school legislation may dictate
some aspects of school governance and, if necessary, the governance model
will be modified to comply with statutes while providing the best possible
structure for the SVRCS.
The roles and responsibilities of the Board of Trustees of the SVRCS are
to:
· Facilitate a productive team relationship among Board members, Administrators
and the School Community;
· Ensure that the school has sufficient community relations capacity
to convey the school's mission;
· Ensure that the activities of the school are in full alignment with
its mission;
· Establish policies under which the school will be administered;
· Ensure adherence to all regulations;
· Have complete and final responsibility in all fiscal affairs;
· Periodically evaluate the school; and
· Serve on one or more board committees, as follows:
Curriculum. Review curricula to ensure compliance with the mission of the
school; recommend policy changes to the Board of Trustees where appropriate;
ensure the curriculum is responsive to the evolving needs of a learning community;
participate in the development of program evaluation; assist in development
of enrichment, after school and summer programs.
Personnel. Assist school administration in developing job descriptions and
compensation/benefits packages of school employees for approval by the Board
of Trustees; assist school administration in developing duties and responsibilities
of voluntary staff for approval by the Board of Trustees; review school administration
recommendations for hiring and dismissing employees and make recommendations
to the Board of Trustees; and provide advice on personnel matters to the Board
of Trustees and the school administration.
Community Relations. Seek out active involvement of local, state and national
community; oversee public relations functions; act as liaison between Board
of Trustees, staff, parents, volunteers and community at large to ensure smooth
operation of the school within a democratic framework; develop a process for
addressing grievances by any party; oversee Community In-service programs;
plan social events; oversee strong home/school communication programs, including
possible home/school computer link-ups.
Finance. Prepare annual operating and capital budgets for approval by the
Board of Trustees; review monthly actual revenues and expenditures of the
operating, capital and enterprise activities and present same to the Board
of Trustees; assist in the preparation of annual financial reports as required
by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for approval by the Board of Trustees;
prepare procedures to be performed by an audit and review reports for approval
by the Board of Trustees; act as liaison to the KSCD business manager regarding
financial matters; and provide advice on financial matters to the Board of
Trustees and the school administration.
Property. Determine space and equipment needs and costs associated therewith;
identify school site; ensure compliance with all facility regulations; develop
plans for any necessary renovations to site; oversee preparation of physical
plant and purchase of equipment and supplies; monitor ongoing compliance with
regulations; and oversee maintenance of buildings and equipment.
These committees will include at least one Board member, any interested stakeholders
and, upon Board approval, non- stakeholders. All committees report to the
full Board for final approval before taking action.
The SVCC, Inc. will conduct monthly town meetings. These town meetings will
be conducted with a quorum of the Board of Directors required in order to
hold the meeting and a list of articles to be presented, discussed and voted
upon. The school administration and community relations committees of the
Board will work closely with town meeting participants to ensure that the
business conducted is meaningful, fruitful and consistent with the actions
of the Board of Trustees and school administration in implementing the mission
of the SVRCS.