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INTRODUCTION
School based decision making (SBDM) is a mandate of the Kentucky Education Reform
Act (KERA). KRS 160.345 requires each local board of education to adopt a policy
implementing school based decision making by January 1, 1991
The following by-laws have been written as a basis for school based decision making at
Barren County High School. These by-laws along with Barren County School Board
Policy and state law provide the guidelines by which the council may function.
CONTENTS
I.
VISION STATEMENT OF BARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
II.
PURPOSE OF SBDM COUNCIL
III.
MEMBERSHIP
IV.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
V.
OFFICERS AND DUTIES
VI.
COMMITTEES
VII.
COUNCIL MEETINGS
VIII.
DECISION MAKING METHOD
IX.
APPEALS
X.
TRAINING
XI.
AMENDING THE BY-LAWS
XII.
RECORD KEEPING
XIII.
COMMUNICATION
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I.
VISION
The Barren County High School Council believes that each student must be accepted
as a unique individual with his/her own level of achievement, development, and rate
of learning in a safe secure environment, considered, so that each student will become
a self-sufficient member of our evolving society.
The knowledgeable and well-prepared staff and various other support services
promote the opportunity for student learning. The students’ learning potential will be
accomplished through activities including practical living skills (namely; family &
consumer sciences, communication, business education, technology education, and
career education), physical education, health, art, vocal and instrumental music,
special needs student resource rooms, computer labs, foreign languages, specialized
reading, media services, and core content areas.
The SBDM council believes that the school, parents, and community are all integral
elements of our students’ education.
Collectively this vision can be attained.
II.
PURPOSE OF BARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SBDM COUNCIL
The Barren County High School Council has been created for the purpose of
implementing Section 2 and Section 3 of KRS Chapter 158, which requires the
following skills and knowledge for our students:
1. Communication skills necessary to function in a complex and changing
civilization;
2. Knowledge to make economic, social, and political choices;
3. Understanding of governmental processes as they affect the community, the
state, and the nation;
4. Sufficient self-knowledge and knowledge of mental and physical wellness;
5. Sufficient indoctrination in the arts to enable each student to appreciate one’s
cultural and historical heritage.
6. Sufficient preparation to choose and pursue life’s work intelligently; and
7. Skill to enable them to compete favorably in the job market and ability
compete favorably with students.
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8. Sufficient knowledge in science and technology to make informed decisions
in an ever-changing world.
The SBDM council shall establish policies, which will meet the academic
expectations of students at Barren County High School in the following areas:
1. Determination of curriculum, including needs assessment and curriculum
development, gender equity, and cultural diversity;
2. Selection of all personnel and assignment of all instructional and noninstructional staff time;
3. Assignment of students to classes and programs within the school;
4. Determination of the schedule of the school day and week, in correlation to
the beginning and ending times of the school day and school calendar year as
established by the local board;
5.
Determination of the use of school space during the school day;
6. Planning and resolution of issues regarding instructional practices;
7. Selection and implementation of discipline, safety, and classroom
management techniques, including responsibilities of the student, parent,
teacher, counselor, and principal;
8. Selection of extracurricular programs and determination of policies relating to
student participation based on academic qualifications and attendance
requirements, program evaluation, gender equity, and supervision;
9. Procedures consistent with local school board policy, for determining
alignment with state standards, technology utilization, and Kentucky Program
of Studies appraisal;
10. School budget and administration, including discretionary funds; activity and
other school funds; funds for maintenance, supplies, and equipment; and
procedures for authorizing reimbursement for training and other expenses;
11. School improvement plans, including the form and function of strategic
planning and its relationship to district planning, and the Kentucky Program of
Studies and;
12. Professional development plans developed pursuant to KRS 156.095 and
156.0951.
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III.
MEMBERSHIP
The membership of this council shall consist of three teachers, two parents, and one
principal. An exception to this composition is identified in the following sections of
the By-Laws.
IV.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
Election of Teacher Members:
Procedures for holding the election for teacher council members shall be the same as
those governing the election to determine if the school will adopt SBDM. Teachers may
nominate themselves or another teacher. Nominations shall be made in writing to the
Principal no later than five (5) days before the election. The principal shall prepare a
ballot containing the names of all qualified teachers agreeing to accept the nomination.
The principal shall chair and oversee the election of teacher members to the council.
The teacher representative shall be elected by a majority of the teacher membership of the
school. Teachers must be employees of the district and currently assigned to the school
where they are elected as a council member.
If, after the first round of voting, the required number of candidates have not been elected
by majority vote, the Principal shall reveal to the person receiving the lowest number of
votes his/her standing. From that point forward, the candidate with the lowest vote total
will be dropped from the ballot. Voting will continue in this manner with the candidate
receiving the lowest vote total being dropped each round until the required number of
candidates have been selected by the majority vote.
Election of Parent Members:
The principal shall set the date for the election of parent council members and provide
notice of the election to the parents via local media sources. The notice shall state that
the parents of any duly enrolled student in the school may nominate themselves or
another parent to be elected to the council. It shall also be noted that any parent, of a
duly enrolled student in the school may vote to elect the parent council members. and
publicized through various local media sources. The election of parent council members
shall be held at a convenient time and place to enable all parents to have an opportunity
to vote.
Nominations shall be made in writing and submitted to the principal five (5) school days
prior to the date scheduled for the election
Parents may nominate themselves or another parent.
The principal shall prepare a ballot containing the names of all qualified parents agreeing
to be nominated.
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Election of parent members to the council shall be by the majority of the qualified parents
voting during the election.
Parent council members shall be a parent, stepparent or legal guardian of student
currently enrolled in the school. Any parent(s) of an eighth grade child having
reasonable expectation of enrolling in the ninth grade at Barren County High School may
become a candidate for council membership. A council member shall not be the relative
of a school employee. Relative shall mean father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife,
so, daughter, aunt, uncle, son-in-law or daughter-in-law.
When Barren County has reached 8% or more minority student enrollment, as determined
by the enrollment on the preceding October 1, the Council shall have at least one (1)
minority member. If the council formed as described above does not have a minority
member, the Principal, in a timely manner, shall be responsible for carrying out the
following:
1) Organizing a special election to elect an additional member. The principal
shall call for nominations and shall notify the parents of the minority students
of the date, time, and location of the election to elect a minority parent to the
council by ballot; and
2) Allowing the minority teachers in the building to select one (1) of their
number to serve as a teacher member on the council. If there are no minority
teachers who are members of the faculty, an additional teacher shall be elected
by a majority of all teachers. Term limitations shall not apply for a minority
teacher who is the only minority on the faculty.
3) “Minority” means American Indian; Alaskan native; African-American;
Hispanic; including persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or
South American origin; Pacific Islander, or other ethnic group
underrepresented in the school.
If after the first round of voting, the required number of candidates have not been elected
by majority vote, the principal shall reveal to the person receiving the lowest number of
votes his/her standing. From that point forward, the candidate with the lowest vote total
will be dropped from the ballot. Voting will continue in this manner with the candidate
receiving the lowest vote total being dropped each round until the required number of
candidates have been selected by the majority vote.
Terms of school council members shall be for one (1) year and
TERMS:
shall begin on July 1 and end on June 30 of the following year. Annual elections for the
following year’s term shall be held during the preceding May on a date set by the
Principal. Teacher and parent council members are eligible for re-election.
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Council vacancies after they are announced shall be filled at a
VACANCIES:
special called election and shall follow the guidelines set forth in this policy. A vacancy
is created when a teacher is no longer assigned to the school; or a parent no longer has a
child enrolled in a school. Should a vacancy occur during the year, the person on the
ballot with the next highest votes would fill the vacancy.
V.
OFFICERS AND DUTIES
Chair
The principal shall chair all meetings of the council and shall be
responsible for securing minutes that record the council’s actions. Minutes shall be
approved by the council, kept in a permanent file, and open to public inspection. A copy
of the minutes shall be posted in a prominent place frequented by faculty members and/or
e-mailed. The principal shall forward a copy of the minutes of each meeting to the
Superintendent who shall keep the School Board informed of the council actions.
A vice-chair shall be selected by the council members at the first meeting
Vice-Chair
of the year and shall serve as chair of the council if the chair is unable to attend the
council meeting. If the vice-chair resigns the council will select a new vice-chair at the
next regular meeting.
The vice-chair shall call a special meeting of the council in the event a principal vacancy
occurs. The vice-chair shall serve as chairman of the selection committee for the
principal hiring process and shall conduct any meetings necessary.
Secretary
A secretary shall be selected by the council members at the first meeting
of the year, and may or may not, be an elected member of the council. The secretary
shall be responsible for recording the minutes of each council meeting and may not
participate in council meetings unless directly addressed. He/She is also responsible for
preparation of an agenda and distributing the agenda to council members and staff at least
one week prior to the scheduled meetings. The secretary shall notify the local media of
the date, time, and place of all meetings of the council at least one week in advance and
special meetings in a timely manner. The SBDM council may at its discretion award a
stipend to compensate the secretary.
VI.
COMMITTEES
All certified personnel at Barren County High School shall be divided into committees.
The committees shall be appointed and set by August first. Committees may also include
other interested parents, and classified employees. At the beginning of each year the
council may assist council committees in focusing their goals and activities for the
forthcoming year.
Consolidated Planning
Professional Development
Discipline
Safe School
Extra Curricular Activities
Scheduling
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Finance
Gifted & Talented
Graduation Requirements
Social
Technology
Textbook
Staff that have a special interest in a committee may submit a request to be a member of
that committee prior to the August first deadline. Each committee chairperson shall be
appointed by the principal and serve a one year term.
Each Committee chairperson is responsible for notifying the secretary of the council of
any committee presentation so that it may be included in the agenda that is distributed at
least one week prior to the meetings. The committee chairperson or committee
representative may present any proposal to the council at the regular meeting. The
council may accept or reject the proposal and/or send it back to the committee for further
consideration.
VII.
COUNCIL MEETINGS
Schedule:
The principal shall call the first meeting of the council within thirty (30)
school days after the election of all council members; thereafter, the council shall set its
own meeting schedule.
Open Meeting Requirements:
All meetings of the council are open to the public
and subject to the open meetings law. Meetings shall be held at a time convenient. No
council meeting shall be held during the scheduled instructional day. Advance notice of
meetings shall be given to parents and teachers.
Agenda:
A written agenda shall be prepared for the council meetings by the
secretary after all items are confirmed by the principal. Items to be placed on the
council’s meeting agenda shall be submitted in writing to the principal. The deadline for
placing items on the agenda shall be five school days prior to the meeting. Copies of the
agenda shall be made available to the public. Items may be added to the agenda at the
time of the council meeting only with the consensus of the council members present.
The public may address the council on agenda items during the discussion phase relating
to items on the agenda. An individual and/or group will be provided with a maximum of
three (3) minutes for discussion on any one item unless, by consensus of the council,
additional time is granted.
The format for the meeting shall be:
Approval of the Agenda
Approval of the Previous Minutes
Approval of Financial Report
Consolidated Plan Report
Committee Report
Unfinished Business
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New Business
Announcements/Delegations
A quorum of the council shall be a majority of the council membership.
Quorum:
In the absence of a quorum, business and policy changes cannot be conducted. A special
meeting may be arranged in a timely manner to address pertinent issues not acted upon in
the meeting due to the absence of a quorum.
Protocol:
The council shall use Robert’s Rules of Order, (current edition) to conduct
meetings except where such rules conflict with Board policy, Statute, or regulations.
Meetings will be conducted with regard to the following:
A. Council members may request that an agenda item be moved to a higher
priority location.
B. The council may call special meetings, or vote to go into closed sessions, as
necessary to conduct business as long as open meetings laws are met.
C. Meeting may be canceled due to inclement weather, at the discretion of the
Chair.
The maximum length of council meetings shall not exceed two hours in
Duration:
length unless a consensus is reached by council members to extend the meeting. When no
additional items of business remain, meetings may be adjourned regardless of duration.
VIII.
DECISION MAKING METHOD
A quorum of the council shall be a majority of the council membership.
Quorum:
In the absence of a quorum, business and policy changes cannot be conducted. A special
meeting may be arranged in a timely manner to address pertinent issues not acted upon in
the meeting due to the absence of a quorum. Affirmative votes equal to the majority of
council membership shall be required for the council to take action.
Adoption of Policy: No policy shall be adopted by the council at the meeting in which
the policy is introduced unless the council determines, by consensus, it necessary to do
otherwise.
Consensus: The council shall make decisions based on consensus of the group. Failure
to reach consensus does not prohibit the council from considering the issue at a future
meeting. Consensus is the process used to ensure that every member of the council has
input into a decision. From this prospective everyone’s opinion is encouraged and
acknowledged. Differences of opinion are viewed as helpful. All council members share
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in the final decision and even those that disagree agree to take responsibility for
implementing the final decision for a certain period of time.
IX.
APPEALS
Eligibility:
Any resident of the district or a parent, student or district employee may
appeal council decisions. The appeal should be made to the council chairperson within
20 days of the council decision.
An appeal on a decision made by a school council must first be reviewed
Process:
by the school council, which shall make a timely response to the appealing party.
If the person presenting the appeal is not satisfied with the decision made by the council,
the appeal may then be submitted in writing to the superintendent within ten (10) days.
If, within ten (10) calendar days, the matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of the
appealing party, said party may within twenty (20) days appeal to the board. The board
has thirty (30) days to schedule the presentation of the appealing party.
The board shall issue a final written decision on the appeal with its rationale no later than
sixty (60) calendar days from the date of the presentation to the board.
At any time during the sixty (60) day deliberation period by the board, the board may
review and render a decision on the matter, which is final, whether or not the appealing
parties agree with the decision rendered by the board.
Basis for review:
The Board will determine whether the issue on appeal falls within
the authority granted to the council by KRS 160.345.
Actions that fall within the statutory authority of the council will be reviewed on appeal
based on whether the council action raises liability and/or health safety concerns, exceeds
budgetary limitations, conflicts with contractual obligations, or was otherwise unlawful
under state or federal law.
Actions that fall within the authority of the Board will be reviewed on appeal based on
whether the council action lacks educational merit, is inconsistent with District goals,
violates District policy, exceeds the authority of the council, raises liability and/or health
and safety concerns, exceeds budgetary limitations, conflicts with contractual obligations,
or is otherwise unlawful under state or federal law.
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When the appeal issue falls within statutory council authority, the
Board Action:
Board shall either (1) affirm the council decision or (2) refer the appeal back to the
council with the documentation of its concerns and suggestions.
When the appeal issue falls within the authority of the Board to decide, the Board shall
either 1) uphold the council decision or 2) reverse any council action found to violate any
of the review standards.
X.
TRAINING
Each member of the SBDM shall attend a six-hour training session presented by a state
approved trainer at a time and site made available by the Kentucky State Department of
education.
Any person who has been a SBDM member in the past and served at least one year shall
attend a three-hour training session presented by a state approved trainer at a time and
site made available by the KY State Department of education.
XI.
AMENDING THE BY-LAWS
The by-laws may be amended at any time by consensus of the council at a council
meeting. Proposed amendments shall be available for review prior to being placed on the
council’s meeting agenda for the purpose of adoption.
The procedure for amending by-laws is as follows:
1. A proposed amendment to these by-laws must first be presented to the
Council at a regular meeting.
2. Notice of the proposed amendment shall be given according to the open
meetings law and placed on the agenda for the next regular meeting for action.
XII.
RECORD KEEPING
Chair: The principal shall be the Chair of the council and shall be responsible for
securing minutes that record the council’s actions. Minutes shall be approved by the
council, kept in a permanent file, and open to public inspection. The principal shall
forward a copy of the minutes of each council meeting to the Superintendent who shall
keep the board informed of council actions.
All official proceedings of the council will be kept in a book provided for that purpose.
This book shall be a public record open to inspections unless otherwise exempted from
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inspection by law (KRS 160.270). Public records of this council shall be subject to the
Open Records provision of KRS 61.870-61.884.
The procedure for requesting council records shall be as follows:
1. The request to inspect records shall be made to the school principal.
2. The original records may not be removed from the school.
3. If some information is exempt from inspection, these records must be separated
from those to be inspected.
4. The principal will keep a log of all requests for inspection of records.
5. The council may fix a reasonable compensation for these services.
XIII.
COMMUNICATIONS
SBDM council activities will be publicized in compliance with KRS 61.805 and the
policies and procedures of the Barren County Board of Education.