The School Charter Plan:

6. DESCRIPTION OF FOUNDING/MANAGEMENT TEAM

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.