1800

BOARD ADVISORY COUNCILS

1800

Board advisory councils shall be established to advise the Board of Education and to represent the nine Board of Education member voting districts. Councils should be set up by Board Member/ District. The schools located within the geographic district shall comprise each of the nine councils. Each Board member shall represent the Board advisory council of his/her district. The Board chairman shall assign each school to a Board advisory council.

1800.1

A Board advisory council provides a forum for receiving input and shall:

·                    research/review/offer recommendations on the critical issues prioritized at the Board’s annual planning retreat;

·                    review school system policies and procedures assigned by the Board of Education to improve understanding and to facilitate uniform interpretation by the community. Examples may include budgets, programs, activities, and facilities;

·                    provide a forum for receiving input/advice to the Board of Education on issues affecting school policies and procedures;

·                    offer feedback solicited by the Board on longer-term issues;

·                    express itself appropriately on educational matters based upon active participation in activities.

1800.2

The chair of each Board Advisory Council shall submit an annual report to the Wake County Board of Education by May 30^th of each school year. The Board will provide an opportunity for those districts that so choose to make an oral presentation. The report should include input on district needs or concerns, as well as any recommendations for the Board’s consideration regarding issues discussed during the respective school year. The report may include recommendations to the Board regarding specific district concerns. The report shall be submitted on the Board Advisory Council reporting form BP2.  

1800.3

Councils shall be composed of one member per school and three members-at-large with the terms beginning at the start of the school year. Appointments shall be made for terms of up to three years. During their terms, members shall serve at the pleasure of the Wake County Board of Education. A parent representative who is absent has the responsibility of ensuring that another parent representative be present at the meeting. The substituting parent should be in an existing leadership position at the school.

1800.4

Candidates for a term on a Board advisory council as a school representative shall be nominated by the representative Board member of that Board advisory council, in consideration with the school principal and PTA, and shall be voted on by the board. It is recommended that advisory council members from each school should be placed on the board of their local PTA. Employees of the Wake County Public School System shall not be eligible to serve on a Board advisory council except those employees officially classified as temporary. Candidates for at-large will be nominated by the Board Member with council approval. Nomination forms, signed by the Board Member and nominee, shall be submitted for board approval.

1800.5

Each council shall hold regular meetings at least four times during the school fiscal year. The first meeting should be held before October 15^th. The council shall adopt a schedule of meetings for the year at its first meeting for each fiscal year and make this schedule available to council members and the superintendent’s office for posting. The last meeting should be held by May 15th. The location of the meetings should rotate among the schools in the area served. Each council shall be required to comply with all requirements of the State Open Meetings Law, G.S. 143, Article 33C. Two chair meetings shall be held during the school fiscal year.

1800.6

Attendance at all Board advisory council meetings is essential to being an effective council member. Two absences from regular meetings during any school fiscal year, without substitute representation,   shall result in replacement from the Board advisory council by the Board Member of that district.

Attendance at Board advisory council meetings is expected from at least one Board Member, one principal from each school, one representative from each school, one area assistant superintendent, and the at-large members of each council.

1800.7

At their last regular meeting of the year, each council shall elect a chair or co-chair for the upcoming year from among the lay members on the committee. A member may not serve as chair for more than two consecutive years.

1800.8

The chair of each council shall select a secretary and shall send copies of the written minutes of the meeting, including the meeting attendance report to the staff person responsible for board advisory councils.

1800.9

A Board advisory council should not involve itself in activities that may reflect adversely on the Wake County Public School System. Specifically, a board advisory council shall not:

A.       Involve itself in personnel matters or individual student problems except where the Board, the administration, or the principal seeks advice and counsel.

B.       Assume legal authority for direct action or decision making within a school.

C.       Involve itself officially in political campaigns.

1800.10

This policy shall be amended or revised in conformity with state law.

Form:

BP-2: Board Advisory Council Reporting Form