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- - 2010 LSC Elections

Decatur Classical School Local School Council

2010 LSC Elections

LSC Election Nomination forms are available in English and Spanish.

Download forms here:

http://www.cps.edu/About_CPS/Departments/Documents/LSC/LSCNominationFormEnglish.pdf

LSC Elections will be held on the second semester Report Card Pick-Up Day in April of 2010.

LSC Elections

Parents and Community Representatives are elected, while Teacher Representatives are appointed by the Board of Education. A non-binding advisory poll of faculty and staff is also held on the second semester Report Card Pick-Up Day in April of every even-numbered year to determine the preferences of faculty and staff regarding the appointment of teachers to the LSC. The results are sent to the Board, which will appoint two teacher representatives to each LSC. Parent, community, and teacher representatives serve a two-year term beginning July 1 after each election and ending June 30, two years later. It's never too early to think about YOUR term on the Decatur Local School Council

What is the LSC

What are the Local School Council’s Responsibilities?

The Illinois legislature has given Local School Council’s the primary responsibility for school governance and improvement under the School Reform Act. The powers and duties of the LSC are described in the CPS LSC handbook called “Chicago Public Schools Office of Local School Council Relations: A Quick Resource Guide for Local School Councils”. The powers and duties, as summarized from this Quick Resource Guide including the following:

Principal Performance Evaluation, Retention and Selection

Annually, the LSC evaluates the performance of the principal. The LSC decides whether to renew the principal’s four-year contract or to hire a different principal at the end of the contract term. If necessary, the LSC selects a new principal for a new contract term or to fill a vacancy. According to Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/34-2.3) the principal evaluations must focus on “(i) student academic improvement, as defined by the school improvement plan, (ii) student absenteeism rates at the school, (iii) instructional leadership, (iv) the effective implementation of programs, policies, or strategies to improve student academic achievement, (v) school management, and (vi) any other factors deemed relevant by the local school council including, without limitation, the principal’s communication skills and ability to create and maintain a student-centered learning environment, to develop opportunities for professional development, and to encourage parental involvement and community partnerships to achieve school improvement.” The LSC may choose to involve people from outside the LSC in some aspects of the evaluation such as gathering information or making recommendations, but only the LSC members may vote to determine the actual evaluation ratings.

School Improvement Plan to Advance Academic Achievement (“SIPAAA”)

The SIPAAA document is the blue print for the improvement of the school, and the education of its students. It is an accountability tool for the LSC, the school, and the Illinois State Board of Education. The LSC reviews and improves or asks for amendments to the SIPAAA and reports progress and problems with respect to its implementation at least twice a year at two well-publicized meetings with the entire school community. The LSC evaluates the allocation of both teaching and non-teaching staff resources, to determine if such allocation is consistent with instructional objectives and school programs as reflected in the SIPAAA. The SIPAA serves as an internal review of progress towards the school’s priority goals.

Budget and Internal Accounts

The LSC approves the School Expenditure Plan prepared by the principal in respect to funds allocated and distributed to the school by the Board of Education. The LSC approves, in accordance with Board of Education policy, receipts and expenditures for internal accounts of the school, and approves all fund-raising activities by non-school organizations (IE: the PTA). The LSC has the responsibility and authority to review, revise and approve the entire school budget; monitor the school spending throughout the year; review, approve and monitor the school’s internal accounts (cash the school gets for student fees, fundraising, vending machines, special events, gifts, etc.); direct the principal to shift expenditures within funds to change how money will be spent, and to close positions and open new ones (to the extent consistent with existing laws and collective bargaining agreements); and to approve amendments to the budget. The LSC has the authority to approve all internal account receipts and expenditures over $1,000 by an affirmative vote of a majority of serving members. The LSC has the authority to review and approve receipts and expenditures for all school internal accounts on a monthly basis. While General Funds, which pay for the school’s basic program, are locked into required teaching, administration and staffing positions, the LSC can recommend that new teachers have certain skills that follow the LSC’s vision for the school and the SIPAAA, for example teachers with knowledge of technology, the arts, or gifted education.

Curriculum and Textbooks

The LSC makes recommendations to the principal on textbook selection and curriculum, as long as those recommendations are consistent with the curriculum objectives of the Board of Education.

Advising the Principal

The LSC advises the principal concerning the attendance and disciplinary policies of the school (Illinois School Code 105 ILCS 5/34-2.3.6). The LSC makes recommendations to the principal concerning respective appointments of persons to fill any vacant, additional, or newly created positions for teachers or non-teaching staff at the school.

Dress Code

The LSC may adopt a school uniform or dress code policy.

Public Use of School Building

The LSC may grant the use of the school assembly halls and classrooms, when not otherwise needed, for public lectures, concerts and other educational social activities, in compliance with Board rules.

Parent Involvement

The LSC is to encourage the involvement of additional non-voting members of the school community. Public participation should be encouraged and time should be provided for such participation at each regular LSC meeting. Chicago Board of Education policy specifies that the LSC is responsible for involving the school community in the development of the SIPAAA. The goal is to have every member of the school community know the priority goals and strategies of the SIPAAA. The LSC is directed to figure out ways to increase school progress through increased school community partnerships and active parent involvement. See VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES to see our progress

Students With Disabilities and the Least Restrictive Environment

The LSC must review the principal’s report on services to students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment.

Open Meetings

The LSC must comply with the Illinois Open Meetings Act and the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Closed executive sessions are necessary in some cases, such as when the LSC or its committees are discussing confidential personnel information.

Presiding 2009/2010 LSC Officers & Members

Officers:

Jill Martensen - Chair / Parent Representative
Mike Rigsby - Vice Chairperson/Parent Representative
Judy Cobb - Secretary / Teacher Representative
Susan J. Kukielka - Principal

Members:

Nancy Jorbin - Teacher Representative
Anita Goldstein - Community Representative
Vacancy - Community Representative
Ben Wong - Parent Representative
G.A. Finch - Parent Representative
Patrick Cichanski - Parent Representative
Ravi Kodavarti - Parent Representative

Committees

Current Decatur Classical School LSC Committees are as follows:

SIPAAA Implementation & Review

Chair: Pat Cichanski

School Improvement Plan to Advance Academic Achievement The SIPAAA Committee is made up of LSC Members, parents and teachers that meet during the year to give input on what the goals of the school should be in the current document. Surveys are sent out to the whole school community to gather information on what things need improvement and should be funded. Great things have been accomplished at Decatur using our SIPAAA. Highlights of the current Decatur SIPAAA include funding the JCC PE Partnership and the the Artist in Residence Program

To be a part of the SIPAAA Committee please contact Pat Cichanski at:SIPAAA CHAIR

To view our full current SIPAAA visit:

http://schoolreports.cps.edu/SIPAAA/SIPAAA_DECATUR_609880.pdf

SIPAAA Subcommittee

Performing Arts Programming Committee

Budget

The budget committee consists of all members of the LSC. The budget is reviewed on a monthly basis.

One of the LSC's jobs is to approve expenditures over $1,000 being transfered in our current budget. Decatur's LSC however has great trust in our Principal and has raised that amount to the highest allowed by law, which is $2,500. Ms. Kukielka has shown a knack for budgeting and really can get the most out of our collective dollars by including the school budget, SIPAAA budget, Grants and PTA gifts into providing what is needed for our students. The LSC is given a monthly budget update by our Principal and has an ongoing and very open dialogue about what the needs of the school are. Decatur and its administration have a very transparent approach to budgeting and allows for input from our entire community. Attend an LSC meeting to hear what's going on in the school budget.

Principal Review & Evaluation

Chairs: Pat Cichanski and Ravi Kodavarti

The Principal Evaluation committee is made up of LSC members, however we use the entire Decatur Community as a sounding board for our yearly evaluation. Survey's are sent to all the involved parties (parents, teachers, staff and community members) and information is gathered in order to best represent our individual groups. Only LSC members fill out the official evaluation, yet a collective evaluation that reflects all opinions is what we strive for and hopefully achieve.

7th/8th Grade

Chairs: Jill Martensen and Kim Jockl (Asst. Principal)

The 7th & 8th Grade Committee is committed to the plight for Decatur to obtain a middle school program for our students. It follows every avenue available, and while we consider every parent, teacher, staff member and administrator at Decatur a member of this committee, we are always looking for your help and ideas. We especially need political connections as we have no “home Alderman” to help us achieve our goal. Documents:

Alumni & Community Relations

Chair: Anita Goldstein

The Alumni and Community Relations committee is a key factor in getting attention for Decatur out into the community. Decatur has several community partnerships and welcomes alumni and guests to our school at every opportunity. Informational meetings are set up at the school for the community to attend, including the GEAP Officers from CPS explaining the process on how to apply to schools like Decatur.

Join the CPS Alumni Org at: http://www.cpsalumni.org/

Technology

Chair: Judy Cobb Tech Committee: Pat Cichanski, Mike Rigsby, Ravi Kodavarti and Ben Wong

The technology team works with our school, helping to maintain the highest quality of technology in our building. Including web-hosting, new equipment purchasing and installation, as well as suggestions on software to be used in the Tech Lab.

30th Year Celebration

Co-Chairs: Jill Martensen and Kim Jockl (Asst. Principal)

See description at the top of page

Grant Writing

If you wish to help Decatur write a grant, please contact our Principal, Ms. Susan Kukielka. Provide the grant details and seek advise on what needs funding. In the past, parents have played an important part in writing grants that have provided funding for the Library, PE Equipment, and Classroom Materials. Be advised that because most grants do not fund a single school (only a school district) and do not always fund capital improvements, we seek mostly project specific grants that we have hope of obtaining. Please be prepared to do the leg-work including; filling out the grant paperwork for the school and getting final approval and signatures before applying. ANY GRANT…ANY AMOUNT…is greatly appreciated!