AGENDA Childcare is free but must be reserved. Please RSVP for childcare by March 14 th.

Transcription

1 WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON FAMILY ENGAGEMENT March 17, :00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. WCSD Riggins Building North Star Orientation Room 5450 Riggins Court, Suite #5 Reno, Nevada AGENDA Childcare is free but must be reserved. Please RSVP for childcare by March 14 th. 1. OPENING ITEMS 1.01 Call to Order - 4:00 P.M Public Comment* 1.03 Action to Adopt the Agenda (For Possible Action) Please Note: Items on this agenda may be taken out of order; The Public Body may combine two or more agenda items for consideration; and The Public Body may remove an item from the agenda or delay discussion relating to an item on the agenda at any time Introductions - 5 Minutes 2. PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Public comment: any individual may address the public body concerning any item listed below. A completed Citizen s Right to Speak card must be submitted to the public body at the meeting. During the discussion of each item on the agenda, the Chair will invite the individual to come forward to speak. Individuals are limited to three minutes per item Approval of Minutes of the COFE Meeting of February 25, 2016 (For Possible Action) 2.02 Presentation of the Treasurer s Report for March 2016 (For Possible Action) 2.03 Presentation, Discussion and Possible Action on Board Policy , Family Engagement. The Committee may suggest revisions to the policy and recommend they be forwarded to the District s Chief Student Services Officer for Consideration 40 minutes - Presented by Rochelle Proctor, Title I Program Coordinator (For Possible Action) 2.04 Presentation, Discussion and Possible Action of the Draft COFE Bylaws. Possible Action may include approval of changes to the existing draft, and recommendation that the Draft COFE Bylaws be forwarded to the District s Chief of Staff for Consideration Prior to Being Submitted to the District s Board of Trustees for Adoption 40 minutes Presented by Diane Bartholomew, Council s Chair (For Possible Action) 3. CLOSING ITEMS 3.01 ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEXT MEETING Thursday, April 28 th Location: 5450 Riggins Court, Suite #5, Reno, NV Room: North Star Orientation Room PUBLIC COMMENT*

2 Council on Family Engagement Meeting Agenda March 17, ADJOURNMENT *PUBLIC COMMENT: Comments from the public are invited at this time on topics not specifically addressed elsewhere in the agenda. The committee is precluded from discussing or acting on items raised by Public Comment, which are not already on the agenda. The Committee may impose reasonable restrictions on the format allowed for public comment. Written comments submitted for public comment may be submitted to the Committee and will be attached to the minutes of the meeting. Members of the public wishing to request supporting materials for this meeting or who are disabled and require special accommodations at the meeting should contact Jessenia Segura, Administrative Secretary for Family School Partnerships. Mrs. Segura can be contacted in writing at 5450 Riggins Ct. Suite #5, Reno Nevada or by telephone at This agenda and supporting materials, when appropriate, have been posted at the following locations: State of Nevada website (notice.nv.gov) Washoe County School District Central Administrative Building Washoe County Administration Building Washoe County Courthouse Reno City Hall Sparks City Hall Sparks Library Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Administration Building Reno Sparks Indian Colony Administrative Office COFE Vision Statement: In order to improve academic achievement, all Washoe County schools will actively solicit and welcome family engagement both at home and school. COFE Mission Statement: We believe that community and Family Engagement is essential to achieve the goal of every child, by name and face, to graduation. The Council on Family Engagement develops and implements activities and policies in alignment to the strategic plan to increase community and family participation and advocacy in the education of all students in the Washoe County School District. Visión Del Consejo: Todas las escuelas del Distrito Escolar del Condado de Washoe activamente solicitarían y darán la bienvenida al compromiso del enlace familiar en la escuela y el hogar con el fin de mejorar el rendimiento académico. Misión del Consejo: Nosotros creemos que la comunidad y el enlace familiar es esencial para lograr las metas de cada estudiante, por nombre y rostro, hacia la graduación. El consejo de involucramiento de Padres desarrolla e implementa actividades y pólizas en lineamiento con el Plan Estratégico para incrementar el compromiso y la participación de la comunidad y familias en la educación para todos los estudiantes en el Distrito Escolar del Condado de Washoe.

3 Responsible Office: Office of the Deputy Superintendent Department of School-Family Partnerships BOARD POLICY FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PURPOSE The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees believes that family engagement is essential for academic achievement. When parents are involved in their children s education, the attitudes, behaviors, and achievement of students are positively enhanced. Parents and families provide the primary educational environment for children; consequently, families are vital and necessary partners with the educational communities throughout their children s school career. Washoe County schools, in collaboration with parents, teachers, students and administrators, shall develop and promote strategies in alignment with our strategic plan Envision WCSD 2015, that enhance family engagement and reflect the needs of students, parents and families. POLICY 1. The term parent refers to any caregiver/guardian who assumes responsibility for nurturing and caring for their children. 2. To enhance family-school partnerships, six essential elements shall be promoted and connected to our strategic plan: a. Welcoming all families: i. Promotion of an atmosphere for parents and families to visit the school their children attend in order to feel welcomed, valued and connected to the school community. b. Communicating effectively: i. Families and school staff engage in regular, two-way, meaningful communication about student learning. ii. Effective communication requires school-initiated contact with the parent and parent-initiated contact with the school where both parties provide vital information about a child s strengths, challenges and accomplishments.

4 Board Policy Family Engagement Page 2 iii. To communicate effectively, both parties must be aware of and address issues such as cultural diversity, language differences and special needs. iv. Appropriate steps shall be taken to allow authentic communication between participants. c. Supporting student success: i. Collaboration among parents, families and schools to support learning by pupils and healthy development of pupils at home and school. ii. Student achievement increases when parents are actively engaged in the learning process and the school system. iii. Schools shall provide opportunities for parents to learn effective ways to support their child s educational needs including information about how to support learning at home, promoting effective study habits and monitoring their child s progress through student achievement data. d. Speaking up for every child: i. Empowerment of parents and families to advocate for their children and the children of other parents and families to ensure that all pupils are treated fairly, and have access to learning opportunities that support pupil achievement. e. Sharing power: i. Promotion of an equal partnership between parents, families and schools in making decisions that affect children, parents and families and in informing, influencing and creating school policies, practices and programs. Schools shall actively enlist parent participation in decision-making. ii. Efforts shall be made to recruit and support participation by parents representing diverse student groups such as: English Language Learners, special needs, gifted and talented, and homeless. iii. The role of parents in decision-making shall be continually evaluated, refined, and expanded at the district and school levels.

5 Board Policy Family Engagement Page 3 f. Collaborating with community: DESIRED OUTCOMES i. Collaboration of parents, families and schools with the community to connect pupils, parents, families and schools with learning opportunities, community services and civic participation. 1. Through the implementation of this policy and our strategic plan, effective communication between the school and the parent will be valued. 2. The District shall develop and promote strategies that enhance family-school partnerships and reflect the needs of students, parents and families. IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES & ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS 1. This policy reflects the goals of the District s Strategic Plan, Envision WCSD 2015 Investing in Our Future, Goal 3, Engage Families and Community Partners, Objective 3.2, Increase Meaningful Parent Involvement and Family Engagement Initiatives. 2. This policy supports Board Policy 5036, Parents as Partners. 3. The following documents describe the process for communicating student progress: a. Administrative Regulation , Parent Involvement b. Administrative Procedure OSP-P006, Reporting to Parents c. Administrative Procedure SSS-P400, Special Education Reporting to Parents 4. This policy is supported by Administrative Procedure SUP-P001, Meaningful Access, which addresses document translation, language interpretation, and access to school campuses and activities. 5. This policy complies with Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 392, Pupils, and specifically: a. NRS , Parental Involvement and Family Engagement. 6. This policy and its corresponding Administrative Regulation comply with the following federal regulations: a. Federal Elementary & Secondary Education Act, Part A, Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies, Section 1118, Parent Involvement;

6 Board Policy Family Engagement Page 4 b. No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, as set forth in 20 U.S.C This policy complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99). REVIEW AND REPORTING 1. The Board of Trustees will receive data related to student success and family engagement at the annual Data Summit Work Session, specifically regarding: a. Percent of parents satisfied with school service b. Percent of parents satisfied with district service c. Percent of parents using the Infinite Campus Parent Portal 2. The Office of School Performance & Accountability will monitor this policy and its accompanying documents. a. The Department of Family-School Partnerships will work on family engagement initiatives. Data regarding such initiatives and their outcomes will be made available to the Board of Trustees annually as part of the department plan reporting process. 3. Pursuant to Nevada Revised Statute , this policy shall be reviewed and amended, as necessary, by the Board of Trustees. POLICY HISTORY Date Revision Modification 7/24/ Adopted Policy

7 COUNCIL ON FAMILY ENGAGEMENT OPERATING PROCEDURES Responsible: Department of Family-School Partnerships PURPOSE This administrative procedure shall establish the bylaws and operating procedures of the Council on Family Engagement ( COFE ) a committee of the Board of Trustees of the Washoe County School District ( District ). PROCEDURE 1. Article I: Name a. The name of this committee is the Washoe County School District Council on Family Engagement. 2. Article II: Purpose a. COFE shall: i. Enhance and increase the District s Family Engagement as it relates to positive student academic achievement. ii. Support the implementation of the District s policy on Family Engagement. iii. Function as the advisory council in the area of Family Engagement to the District s Board of Trustees. iv. Promote awareness of the six standards of the PIISP within the District and within the community at large. v. Contribute suggestions concerning long-range establishment of the District s goals and objectives. COFE shall have input in establishing policies, priorities, and evaluation of Family Engagement programs and activities. vi. Provide a forum for the coordination of Family Engagement efforts throughout the District. 3. Article III: Membership a. Composition DRAFT i. Membership of the COFE shall consist of parents, representatives of the community, and educators, as specified in the addendum. The COFE shall have a total of eighteen (18) members. Superintendent Designee (1) Child and Family Services (1) Title I Department (1) Washoe Education Support Professionals (1) PTA (1)

8 Ad Hoc Calendar Committee Operating Procedures Page 2 Washoe Education Association (1) Washoe School Principals Association(1) Parent Involvement Facilitator (1) Higher Education Parent Representative Early Childhood Community Based (1) Head Start Business (3) Community At-Large (4) Parent Representatives o Elementary (3) o Middle (3) o High (3) o Early Childhood from WCSD (1) o Parent/WCSD Employees (2) b. COFE appointed members of the COFE shall be the individual holding the specific position or his/her designee. If a permanent designee is appointed for the year, he/she shall have voting rights. c. Each member of the COFE is a voting member. d. Applicants shall submit an application for membership to the Nominating Committee no later than February 15 th of each year. The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of proposed members of the COFE during the regularly scheduled March COFE meeting. Election of new members shall be held during the regularly scheduled May COFE meeting. DRAFT e. A term of membership shall be two (2) years, commencing on August 1st and ending July 31st. Members who wish to serve a second term shall submit a new application to the Nominating Committee by March 31st. No member may serve for more than two (2) consecutive two-year terms without at least a one year break in service. i. The executive committee has the authority to retain, for a minimum of one year, members who have reached their term limits and have expressed that they would like to continue to participate with the COFE if it is in the best interests of the COFE. f. Members who cannot complete their term on the COFE should submit a letter of resignation to the Executive Committee. Upon acceptance of the letter of resignation, the Executive Committee shall direct the Nominating Committee to recommend a replacement for approval by the COFE to fulfill the balance of the term.

9 Ad Hoc Calendar Committee Operating Procedures Page 3 g. The COFE shall strive to be representative of the diverse nature of the WCSD. Factors to be considered for membership shall include, but are not limited to: (1) geographic representation; (2) ethnicity; (3) socio-economic status; (4) gender; and (5) extent of parent involvement experience. h. District employees are not eligible to serve on the COFE, except in the two positions specifically designated for parent/district employees. 4. Article IV: Officers and Duties a. The officers of the COFE shall be Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary- Treasurer, Immediate Past Chair, and the Superintendent s Designee. b. All officers must be members of the COFE. c. The Chairperson shall: i. be responsible for the general planning for and supervising of activities of the COFE; ii. approve the agendas of the meetings of the COFE iii. preside over all meetings of the COFE d. The Vice-Chairperson shall: i. Preside in the absence of the Chairperson. ii. Discharge any duties delegated by the Chairperson or as directed by the COFE. iii. Succeed to Chairperson in the event that the Chairperson is unable to serve. e. The Secretary-Treasurer shall ensure that: i. Notice of all meetings is given. ii. Attendance records and minutes for all meetings are kept. iii. Records of all correspondence of the COFE are kept. iv. There is a current roster of COFE members and their term of membership. v. Accurate financial records are kept. f. The Immediate Past Chair shall: DRAFT i. Ensure continuity of projects from one year to the next. ii. Advise the current Officers as necessary. g. The Superintendent s Designee shall: i. Advise the committee on the Superintendent s goals

10 Ad Hoc Calendar Committee Operating Procedures Page 4 ii. Advise the committee on information happening in the School District that concerns the Council. iii. Report to the Superintendent the happenings of the Council. 5. Article V: Nomination, Election and Removal of Officers i. The term of office shall be from August 1st to July 31st and shall be for one (1) year. Officers may be re-elected for one additional term. ii. The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of officers at the regularly scheduled March meeting. Additional nominees shall be accepted from the floor at the March meeting after which nominations shall close. iii. Notice of elections at the regularly scheduled May meeting shall be given during the regularly scheduled March meeting. iv. Election of officers shall be held during the regularly scheduled May meeting. v. All nominees shall be present at the scheduled meeting on the day of the election to accept the nomination or shall submit a written statement accepting the nomination. vi. If there is more than one candidate for any position, election shall be by written secret ballot. Otherwise, election may be by acclamation. vii. An officer may be removed for just cause at any time by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the COFE. viii. A vacancy in an officer s position, due to resignation or removal, shall be filled by the Executive Committee and approved by the COFE. 6. Article VI: Committees and Subcommittees a. Ad Hoc Committees shall be formed and dissolved as needed by the COFE. b. The Chairperson or Co-Chairpersons of any ad hoc or sub-committee shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the COFE. The Chairperson(s) shall be a member of the COFE. c. Membership of an ad hoc or sub-committee shall include any COFE members who wish to serve on the Committee and non-cofe members who shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the Committee. d. Standing Sub-committees DRAFT a. Nominating Committee

11 Ad Hoc Calendar Committee Operating Procedures Page 5 i. The Nominating Committee shall consist of no less than three (3) nor more than five (5) members appointed by the Chairperson and approved by the COFE no later than February of the year their term shall commence. ii. The terms of each member shall be one (1) year from March 1st until February 28th. Members of the Nominating Committee may be reappointed to serve successive one (1) year terms. iii. The duties of the Nominating Committee shall be to: 1. Present a slate of proposed COFE members at the regularly scheduled March COFE meeting for election at the regularly May COFE meeting. 2. Nominate individuals for election to complete the term of any members who resign or are removed from the COFE. 3. Present a slate of officers during the regularly scheduled March meeting. 7. Article IX: Quorum a. A majority (51%) or 10 of the 18 voting members of the Council shall constitute a quorum of the Council for the transaction of business at regularly scheduled meetings. b. There shall be no proxy votes or absentee ballots. c. In accordance with state law, members may be present by means of electronic communication (i.e. speakerphone). 8. Article X: Meetings: a. No fewer than six (6) regularly scheduled meetings shall be held from August 1st to July 31st of each year. The Chairperson shall establish a calendar of regularly scheduled meetings in conjunction with the District s staff liaison. b. Special meetings of the COFE shall be at the discretion of and be convened by the Chairperson. Notices of special meetings shall be sent to the COFE members not less than seven (7) days before the meeting date, stating place, day and hour of the meeting and the purpose for which the meeting is called, and no other business shall be transacted at the meeting. c. Each member of the COFE shall have one vote. 9. Article AttendanceDRAFT XI:

12 Ad Hoc Calendar Committee Operating Procedures Page 6 a. Attendance records of all COFE members shall be reviewed by the chairperson on a regular basis. The Chairperson may recommend removal of any member having three (3) or more absences to the COFE during one (1) Council year or for failure to participate on a committee. 10. Article XII: General a. Parliamentary Authority i. Robert s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters not specifically addressed by these Bylaws or other governing documents of the District. a. A vote will be called as to what recommendation will go forward to the Board of Trustees. All votes will be final. b. The committee shall be dissolved upon completion of its charge or by action of the Board of Trustees. Ad Hoc and/or sub-committees shall be formed and dissolved as needed by the COFE or by action of the Board of Trustees. c. The Board of Trustees may not delegate the responsibility for final decisions to a committee, because such decisions must, by state law, rest with the Board of Trustees. Committees are not empowered to perform management functions. DESIRED OUTCOMES 1. This Administrative Procedure outlines a process for calendar recommendations to be brought forward to the Board of Trustees. IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES & ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS 1. This Administrative Procedure reflects the goals of the District s Strategic Plan. 2. This administrative procedure aligns and complies with the governing documents of the District, to include: a. Board Policy , Family Engagement b. Board Policy 9100, Committees of the Board of Trustees 3. This policy complies with Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) and Nevada Administrative Code (NAC), to include: a. Chapter NRS 241, Meetings of Public Bodies, REVIEW AND REPORTING DRAFT 1. All administrative procedures will be reviewed annually for changes to policy by their department administrator. 2. Accompanying documents will be reviewed annually.

13 Ad Hoc Calendar Committee Operating Procedures Page 7 3. All administrative procedures will be reviewed and updated in July of odd year for changes to law by their department administrator. REVISION HISTORY Date Revision Modification TBA 1.0 Adopted under the newly formed Council on Family Engagement DRAFT