How to Be An Effective Local School Council and Local School Council Member

How to Be An Effective Local School Council andLocal School Council Member

Module 2

Office of Local School Council Relations 125 S. Clark Street, 5th Floor

Chicago, IL 60603 P. 773-553-1400 F. 773-553-1402

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Changes to LSC & OMA Law • New member, a non-teacher staff member, was added to the

LSC.• Full membership on Elementary LSCs is now twelve (12).• Full membership on High School LSCs is now thirteen (13).• Quorum Requirements for Elementary and High Schools is

now seven (7).• Opportunity must be provided to the public to address the LSC

at every public meeting • LSC must approve minutes within 30 days or at the second

regularly scheduled following the meeting where the minutes were taken, whichever is later.

• Approved minutes must be available to the public within 10 days of approval.

• The changes listed above are effective January 1, 2011

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Objectives of Module IITo understand:

• The importance of team building

• The requirements of the Open Meetings Act and Illinois School Code for LSC meetings and the conduct of LSC business

• The requirements and purposes of the annual organizational meeting

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Objectives of Module II

How to conduct effective meetings,including knowing the requirementsfor: – Meeting Notices and Agendas– Quorum for Meeting– Motions– Voting on Different Matters– Minutes– Convening closed sessions or meetings

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Traits of Cooperative Relationships Among LSC Members

• All LSC members understand the proper role, responsibilities, powers and duties of LSCs and LSC members

• Principal and LSC members share information equally with each other

• Collaboration with Principal and among all LSC members

• Communication with Principal and among all LSC members

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Tips for Conducting Effective Meetings

• Request from the Principal and review information and documentation (e.g., SIPAAA, Budget, Budget transfers, Contracts, Internal Accounts Reports, meeting minutes) before meetings at which information will be acted on

• Arrive on time for meetings and remain in attendance for entire meeting

• Start meetings on time

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Tips for Conducting Effective Meetings

• Fully and freely discuss issues

• Allow all members to participate in discussion

• Address each other, the principal, parents and the public with respect and courtesy

• Deal constructively with conflict

• Allow parents and the public to address LSC regularly

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Annual Organizational Meeting

The Illinois School Code requires that LSCs:

• Hold this meeting every year between July 1 and July 14 and take the following actions at the meeting:

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– Elect officers for 1 year term ending the following June 30:

• Chairperson or President (must be a parent member)

• Secretary (may be any member)

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– Establish schedule of regular meetings for the school year (including dates, times and locations)

• The schedule of regular meetings must be made available to parents and the community

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• Different Ways to Call Meeting:

– The LSC may set the date and time of the meeting by voting at an open meeting

– Prior to the end of his/her term in office on June 30, the Chair may call the meeting as a special meeting (Chair may poll members on a convenient date and time)

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Different Ways to Call Meeting:

– Either before or after June 30, any four members (including the principal) may call meeting as a special meeting (any of the four members may poll other members on a convenient date and time).

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– If called as a special meeting, all members must be notified in writing of the date, time, place and purpose of the meeting before the meeting (we recommend that the members be notified as soon before the meeting as possible)

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At organizational meeting, LSCs may also: Elect:

• A Vice-Chairperson (may be any member but it is recommended that a parent member be selected to fill this office)

• A Parliamentarian/Sergeant-at-Arms (may be any member)

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Designate:

A Member/Officer to take on-line training on OMA and FOIA and to serve as LSC’s FOIA Officer

Establish/Reestablish LSC committees:• Budget• SIPAAA• Bylaws• Principal Evaluation• Safety/Discipline, etc.

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– Adopt/Re-adopt Bylaws and/or establish a Bylaws Committee to review and revise Bylaws and present revisions to LSC for approval

Note: Any new or revised Bylaws must be also be

approved by the Office of Local School Council Relations

– Adopt/Re-adopt Rules of Procedure/Order for all meetings

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Sample Organizational Meeting Agenda

XYZ School Local School Council Address of School

Annual Organizational MeetingIn the School Library

Wednesday, July 7, 20104:00 p.m.

Agenda

1. Call To Order (Principal or Outgoing Chairperson)2. Roll Call/Establishment of Quorum3. Select Temporary Chairperson for Meeting4. Select Temporary Secretary for Meeting

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Sample Organizational Meeting Agenda(Cont’d)

5. Nominations for, and selection of, Chairperson6. Nominations for, and selection of, Secretary7. Nominations for, and selection of, Vice- Chairperson [Optional]8. Nominations for, and selection, of OMA/FOIA Officer (per

Amendment to FOIA)9. Establish Regular Meeting Schedule for School Year (Dates, Times, Locations)

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Sample Organizational Meeting Agenda(Cont’d)

10. Establish/Re-establish LSC Committees [Optional]11. Adopt/Re-adopt Bylaws [Optional]12. Adopt/Re-adopt Rules of Order/ Procedure [Optional]13. Announce First Regular Meeting Date and Time14. Public Participation [Optional]15. Adjourn

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Officers’ RolesChairperson– Only Parent Member may fill this office

– Presides at and conducts orderly meetings at which all members are given equal opportunity to participate

– Facilitates fair, frank and respectful discussion and debate among LSC members

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Officers’ RolesChairperson

— May make motions and vote on motions

– Involves other LSC members in preparation of meeting agendas

– Posts/Ensures posting of meeting notices and agendas in compliance with Open Meetings Act and the Illinois School Code

– Signs official CPS records and documents to indicate LSC approval of action or decision reflected in record or document 21

Officers’ Roles

Chairperson– Calls special meetings as necessary, giving all other

members notice in writing of time, place and purpose of meetings and posting or ensuring posting of notices and agendas for such meetings in compliance with the Open Meetings Act

– Other than the matters listed above, the Chairperson exercises no more power or authority than any other LSC member

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Officers’ Roles

Secretary– Any member may fill this office– Takes minutes at all LSC meetings (both open and

closed)– Transcribes and prepares draft minutes of all

meetings in a timely manner for LSC approval – Provides draft minutes to all LSC members in advance

of the meeting at which LSC will consider approval of minutes

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Officers’ Roles

Secretary– Revises draft minutes as directed by LSC and submits

revised minutes for LSC approval– Maintains copies of all approved written meeting

minutes and video/audio tapes of closed meetings– Makes approved minutes available for public

inspection within seven (7) days of approval– Drafts any LSC correspondence as directed by LSC

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Officers’ Roles

Vice-Chairperson– Any member may be selected to fill this office but

selection of a parent member is recommended

– Acts in Chairperson’s absence: • Presides at Meetings• Signs official CPS documents and records after LSC

votes to approve action/decision reflected in document or record

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Bylaws

• Bylaws are rules and procedures that govern how LSCs function

• Bylaws must be consistent with Illinois School Code provisions and Board Rules and Policies concerning Local School Councils

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Bylaws

• Model Bylaws are included in the LSC Reference Guide

• LSCs may adopt and revise the Model Bylaws to their specific LSC

• Any revisions (other than to add the name of the LSC) to the Model Bylaws must be approved by the Office of Local School Council Relations

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The Open Meetings Act (OMA)

Applies whenever:– At least a majority of a quorum of an LSC (4 members) will

gather or gathers to discuss LSC business * Quorum in elementary schools (6

members) * Quorum in high schools ( 7 members)

– At least a majority of a quorum of any LSC committee gathers to discuss LSC or committee business

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OMA Requirements ForMeetings, Notices and Agendas

• All meetings must be held at times and places convenient and open (accessible) to the public

• Regular meetings may be held on legal holidays but special meetings may not

• Notices and agendas for all meetings, open or closed, must be posted at least 48 hours prior to all meetings at the school and other meeting location (if applicable) in a location visible to the public from outside the school*

* Marquees (Posting on marquees does not comply with OMA)

• Clearly and specifically identify on meeting agendas all items to be discussed or acted on by the LSC (by voting)

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• After posting, the LSC may vote to amend meeting agendas to add or remove items not specifically included on the original posted meeting agenda

• Any items added to agenda by amendment after posting may only be discussed at a meeting and may not be voted on at same meeting

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• All LSC votes must take place in public (in open sessions) by roll call, voice vote or show of hands

• LSC members may not vote by proxy or written or secret ballot

• Unless a meeting notice and agenda have been posted, no LSC business may be discussed by four or more LSC members at any social gathering

• LSC must maintain written minutes of all LSC and LSC committee meetings, including closed meetings or sessions

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OMA Requirements ForMeeting Minutes

Written minutes of meetings must includethe following:

• The date, time and place of the meeting

• The members present and whether they are physically present or present by means of video or audio conference

• The members absent

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OMA Requirements ForMeeting Minutes

Written minutes of meetings must includethe following:

• A summary of the discussions on all matters proposed, deliberated or decided and a record of any votes takenNote: A verbatim (word-for-word) record of members’

discussions and/or comments during public participation is not required in the minutes

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Recommendations for Additional Content of Meeting Minutes

In addition to the contents of minutes required by the OMA, we recommend that they also reflect:

• Whether a quorum was present and, if so, the time at which the quorum was established if it was not present when the meeting was called to order

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Recommendations for Additional Content of Meeting Minutes

• The time that members arrived if they arrived late

• The time that members left the meeting if they left before it adjourned and whether their departure resulted in the loss of quorum

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Illinois School Code Requirements for LSC Meetings

– The physical presence of a quorum at meetings for the LSC to take formal action:

6 members in elementary schools7 members in high schools

– Written notice of the time, place and purpose of special meetings to all LSC members must be given before such meetings by the chairperson or four members, whichever is calling the meeting

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OMA Requirement ForClosed Meetings or Sessions

LSCs may schedule closed meetings or may conduct closed sessions during the course of open meetings to discuss only the following matters:

– Litigation impacting the LSC or LSC members

– The evaluation, retention, selection, or request for dismissal of a contract principal

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– Adding terms (addenda) to a principal’s performance contract

– The selection of a candidate to fill a vacancy on the LSC

– The review (at least every 6 months) of minutes of closed meetings or sessions, including whether to maintain their confidentiality (the vote on that matter must be taken in an open session)

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• To schedule a future closed meeting or to go into a closed session during an open meeting, requires:

• A motion stating the matter to be discussed and a second• A vote by majority of serving members approving the

motion

• If the LSC votes to schedule a future closed meeting, a notice and agenda must be posted for the meeting at least 48 hours before the meeting at the school and other meeting location (if applicable)

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• Only the matter specified in the motion to conduct a closed session or meeting may be discussed in the closed session or meeting

• All closed sessions or meetings must be video or audio-taped

• Written minutes of closed sessions or meetings must also be taken of closed sessions or meetings

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• Tapes of closed sessions or meetings must be retained for at least 18 months and may be destroyed only after the LSC approves written minutes of the closed session or meeting that comply with the OMA requirements for minutes

• The closed session tape is not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act

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OMA Requirements For Participation in Meetings

By Electronic Means The OMA allows members to participate in LSC meetings by video or audio conference if all of the following requirements are met:

– The inability to attend the meeting in person must be due to:

personal illness or disabilityemployment purposesLSC businessfamily or other emergency

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OMA Requirements For Participation in Meetings

By Electronic Means– The LSC member must notify the principal, LSC Secretary

or LSC Chairperson before the meeting unless giving advance notice is not practical

– The LSC must have adopted or must adopt a rule conforming to the requirements of the OMA for participation by video or audio conference

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OMA Requirements For Participating in Meetings By Electronic Means– A quorum (6 members in elementary schools and 7

members in high schools) must be physically present at meeting

– A majority of the serving members must vote to allow the absent member to participate by video or audio conference

– LSC may impose additional requirements for participating by video or audio conference, e.g., that participation of members by such means be mentioned in the agenda for the meeting

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Quorum Requirements• A quorum of an elementary school LSC is always six (6)

members regardless of the number of vacant positions on the LSC

• A quorum of a high school LSC is always seven (7) members regardless of the number of vacant positions on the LSC

• For LSC Committees, the quorum is a majority of the full membership of the committee or unless LSC has decided otherwise

• If no quorum is present, LSC or committee may discuss, but may not vote on, any matters on the agenda for the meeting

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Voting Rules

• Voting can take place only in open (public) meetings and only when a quorum of the LSC members is physically present

• General motions require an affirmative vote of a majority of the currently serving members (Note: The “currently serving members” include any members absent from the meeting)

• Selection of a new contract principal requires 7 affirmative or “yes” votes (Note: current principal and student cannot vote or be counted for quorum purposes)

• A transfer of funds from a previously approved budget allocation requires approval by a super majority: seven (7) members in elementary schools and eight (8) members in high schools

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Example Scenario No. 1• At an elementary school LSC meeting, 7 members are

present.• A motion is made and seconded to transfer $2000 in SGSA

funds from supplies (53405) to the teacher salary line (51100)

• After all members who wish to speak on the question/motion have done so, the Chairperson calls the Question for a vote

• There are 6 “yes” votes and 1 “no” vote – Question: Does the motion to transfer funds pass?

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Answer

No. Transfers of funds require supermajority votes of 7 members in elementary school LSCs for approval.

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Example Scenario No. 2• At a high school LSC meeting, 7 members are present and

there are 3 vacancies. • A motion is made and seconded to approve the budget as

amended• After all members who wish to speak on the

question/motion have done so, the Chairperson calls the Question for a vote

• There are 5 “yes” votes and 2 “no” votes

– Question: Does the motion pass?

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Answer

Yes. Motions to approve a budget amendment are routine motions that require only the vote of a simple majority of the serving members. If there are 3 vacancies on a high school LSC, there are 9 serving members and 5 is a simple majority of 9.

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Example Scenario No. 3• At an elementary school LSC meeting, 5 members are

present and there are 5 vacancies• A motion is made and seconded to approve a fundraiser

proposed by the PTA to be conducted in the school• After all members who wish to speak on the

question/motion have done so, the Chairperson calls the question for a vote

• There are 5 “yes” votes and 0 “no” votes – Question: Does the motion pass?

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Answer

No. If there are 5 vacancies, there are 6 serving members. A majority of 6 is 4. The motion received one more vote than needed. However, the motion does not pass because a quorum of 6 members was not present at the meeting.

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Example Scenario No. 4• At a high school LSC meeting, 12 members are present• A motion is made and seconded to go into closed session to

discuss security problems in the school.• After all members who wish to speak on the


• There are 7 “yes” votes and 5 “no” votes – Question: Does the motion pass?

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AnswerYes, the motion passes. However, if the LSC goes into executive session to discuss security problems in the school, it would be in violation of the OMA. Security problems in a school is not one of the subjects that the Act allows public bodies to discuss in a closed session or meeting.

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Example Scenario No. 5• In an elementary school LSC, 6 members (excluding the

principal) are present and there are 2 vacancies • A motion is made and seconded to offer the current contract

principal a new four-year contract• After all members who wish to speak on the


• There are 5 “yes” votes and 1 “no” vote– Question: Does the motion pass?

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Answer

Yes. The required quorum of 6 members, not counting the principal, was present. There are 8 serving members, not counting the principal. 5 is a simple majority of 8. When the LSC considers renewing the current principal’s contract, the principal is not counted for purposes of establishing a quorum or for determining how many members are serving and does not have a vote on the renewal of his or her contract.

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Some Important Things to Know

• The chair signs documents or records to indicate the LSC’s approval of the action or decision reflected in the document or record, even if the chair voted against the action or decision

• All members are entitled to a copy of the School Improvement Plan and School Budget, including the salaries of all school staff

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Some Important Things to Know• The council may overrule a ruling relating to meeting

procedure by the chair by a motion and vote

• The chair or any 4 members, including the principal, may call a special meeting

• Chair may make motions and vote on motions

• Other than presiding at meetings and signing official documents and records, the chair exercises no more authority than any other member

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Some Important Things to Know

• The Chairperson and Secretary serve one-year terms and cannot be removed from office by a vote of the council

• However, if an officer has missed 3 consecutive regular meetings or 5 regular meetings in a 12 month period he or she may be removed from the LSC just as any other member

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How to Be An Effective Local School Council and Local School Council Member

Documents

Transcript of How to Be An Effective Local School Council and Local School Council Member