ELK CREEK ELEMENTARY ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE BY-LAWS MISSION The Mission of the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE is to make collaborative decisions built on sound relationships and a “Whole Child” perspective on behalf of Elk Creek Elementary. Role of the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE: To cooperatively monitor and improve educational programs and conditions within Elk Creek Elementary, utilizing input from parents, teachers, staff and community. Membership: ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE membership will consist of 12 members, comprised of the principal, staff members, parents, and community members. Staff representatives will be selected by their peers. Interested parents and community members may request to serve on the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE by indicating interest to the principal or any current ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE member. When vacancies occur, an application process will take place where interested parties may apply to be considered for the Committee. Membership will begin after approval by the Committee and will be for a two-year term. Upon expiration of a member’s term, members may apply for an additional term. There is no limit to the number of terms a committee member may serve. The ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE may decide to replace any member who does not regularly attend the scheduled meetings and any member whose behavior and apparent agenda no longer supports the overall mission and goodwill of the committee. Meeting: The ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE will meet monthly. Times and dates of the meetings will be determined by the members during the first meeting of each new school year. Scheduled meetings will be advertised in the school newsletter and posted in the school office. Any member may request a special meeting through the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE chairperson. At least one week advance notice will be given on email, voicemail or by phone, for any schedule change or special meeting. Fifty percent (50%) attendance is required to call the meeting to order. Agenda: The meeting agenda will be prepared by the chairperson and the principal. It will be distributed to members and posted in the school office at least two days before the meeting. Scope and Authority: Programs, activities or policies which touch on the school experience of Elk Creek students may be within the domain of the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE for review, guidance, and/or decision. Example areas may include, but are not limited to, the following: School master schedule or school hours Discipline and attendance policies School activities, celebrations, and traditions Budget recommendations Academic reporting Student recognition activities Grant applications New school improvement ideas Focus on Unified Improvement Plans (UIP)/ Review and Monitor Staff development activities
Submitting Agenda Items: Any staff, parent or community member may submit items to be considered for discussion by the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE. Proposed items must be submitted in writing to the Committee chairperson. The chairperson and principal will determine if the item is appropriate for the Committee and if so will put it on a meeting agenda, and if not, will channel it to an appropriate other group or individual. Chairperson: The Chairperson will be selected by the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE in the spring for the following school year. The chairperson must be selected from the parent membership of the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The chairperson will run the meetings, provide leadership in setting the agenda and sharing decisions with appropriate parties, and attend Mountain Area Forum meetings as the Elk Creek representative, or appoint a delegate. Co-Chair: A Co-Chair will be selected by the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE to serve as backup to the Chairperson, with the same duties and responsibilities as the Chairperson, when the Chairperson is unable to attend a meeting. Facilitator: A member of the Committee may volunteer to act as the facilitator for all the meetings. If no one volunteers the role of the facilitator will rotate among group members. The facilitator for the meeting will track group norms and behaviors, and provide feedback and suggestions as appropriate for assisting the group in accomplishing its tasks, in a timely manner. Recorder: The recorder will take minutes of the meeting and will submit the minutes within two weeks after the meeting to the chairperson and principal. Minutes will be published and distributed to the members prior to the next meeting. After approval, the principal will post minutes in the Advisory Committee Notebook and will submit an abbreviated version to the next Quill. The role of the recorder will rotate monthly among group members, may be elected by the committee from members other than the chairperson, or be selected by the principal and approved by the Committee. Process for Decision-Making: The ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE recognizes a variety of decision-making approaches that may be employed: command, consultative, and collaborative. The ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE will make every effort to reach consensus whenever possible recognizing that consensus is the preferred method of decision-making. In the event that consensus cannot be reached, the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE will determine how to resolve the issue. Training: For the Collaborative Decision-Making process to be effective, member training is important. Training will be an ongoing process, and the format of the training will be determined by the members of the Committee. Training topics should enhance group skills and build upon the establishment of group norms, conducting effective meetings, consensus, conflict management, and communication skills. Guests: Guests are welcome to observe meetings. A guest wishing to address the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE on a specific issue must first contact the chairperson or the principal to be placed on the agenda. All guests will be given ten minutes to present their topic. If agreed upon by the Committee, more time may be given. This by-law does not apply to those individuals requested by the Committee to make a presentation, give a report, or provide input at an ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE meeting. Communication: Staff members who serve on the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE will meet with their representative group between meetings to share decisions made by the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE and gather input for future decisions. Minutes and agenda of each ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE meeting will be posted in the school and on the school website, and added to the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE Notebook. A summary of minutes will also be printed in the school newsletter every month. A list of the current members will be posted on the school website and published in the Quill periodically.
Amendment to By-Laws: These By-laws will be reviewed annually and will be revised as needed by the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE. This version of the ELK CREEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE By-Laws will be reviewed by the Committee on 10/13/14. 2014 – 2015 Membership: Ryan Lucas (principal), Dania Guth (chairperson), Sandy Blaylock (cochair), Kathy VanMeter, Karen Benedetti, Lisa Aigner, Sherri Hurd, Matt McKeown, Jenny Jenkins, Stephanie Seevers, Lisa Paris and Cara Adams.
