Schools
School Governance Councils Coming to SPS
Following a state mandate, 11 schools in SPS are required to form school governance councils by Nov. 1 to enhance community involvement and increase student achievement.
A state education reform law passed earlier this summer is requiring schools that failed to make adequate yearly progress in math and reading to form school governance councils, which will involve parents, teachers, and community leaders to communicate with principals about how to improve student achievement.
Eleven schools were identified in Stamford Public Schools: Davenport Ridge, Hart, K.T. Murphy, Roxbury, Springdale, Julia A. Stark, Dolan, Turn of River, Rippowam, Stamford High School and Westhill High School.
The law, which was based on spring 2009 data, requires Stamford schools to form these councils by Nov. 1, 2011. The state mandate is trickled down from federal requirements under the No Child Left Behind act.
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“The school governance councils are driven by best practices—the family engagement best practice,” said Mike Meyer, SPS director of student support services. “This is a formal way of engaging parents in the work and advising schools and principals on matters that would help improve schools.”
Each council will consist of seven parents, five teachers, two community leaders and one principal. Councils at Stamford High School and Westhill High School will involve students, as well.
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In a letter sent to parents in July, SPS said members of the council will be expected to “put students first, be a team player, and be willing to learn.”
SPS has involved the Parent Teacher Council and SPS teachers’ union and administrators’ union in the process. According to Meyer, he would like each school governance council to represent its community.
“The term school governance council implies a lot of control, but it’s strictly an advisory council for principals,” said Meyer. “We look at them as a resource, not as a burden. We need to remind ourselves that we’re doing this because of best practices—not because of a mandate.”
A meeting will be held Sep. 7, tentatively on the 4th floor of Government Center at 7 p.m., to begin discussions and nominations for the councils. To get involved, contact Mike Meyer at mmeyer@ci.stamford.ct.us.
