2008-2009St. Joseph's Catholic School
Site Council
By-laws

1. Members:
Parish Council -Val Leonard
PTO Representative -Jan Grossi/Sharon Green
School Board Representative -Joe Senteni
Montessori Representative -Elaine Anderson
Montessori Parent Rep. -Easter
Elementary Teacher -Jill Barteau
Elementary Parent -Pam Malmgren
Principal’s Assistant -Merrily Pychinka

2. Membership shall not be limited to the above positions. Other representation (such as student representative, or representatives from St. John Vianney or St.______) may be added.

3. School Mission Statement
(to be added in collaboration of the St. Joseph Catholic School Board)
(see attachment)

4. Purpose
The purpose of the St. Joseph Catholic School Site Council is to ensure that the educational interests and needs of all students are met. The main focus of site council must be in the area of school improvement. The site council shall ensure that the voices of all stakeholders are heard in the process of creating and revising school improvement plans. The SJCS Site Council will review and recommend programs and services. Decisions, which involve curriculum will always adhere to Catholic Doctrine. Site Council will also advise in areas, which will strengthen the school mission and provide vision and future school improvements. The SJCS Site Council will serve as a vital communication link between the needs of the parish community, school board and the principal; however, site council will not exceed the authority of the principal or school board.

4. Procedures
The SJCS Site Council will determine within their jurisdiction the course of action to be taken on items presented. Such action may include the following: form a committee, vote, principal or school board decides, consult Father Davis, etc….
The council will use consensus whenever possible. If in the case consensus cannot be reached, majority will rule. All members shall support measures past. However, procedures at the Montessori campus may differ from the elementary campus. The two sites share a common purpose of an enriched Catholic education, but methods procedures will differ.
The principal’s vote will break tie votes. If a member is unable to attend they will notify Merrily in our school office. Subcommittees shall be formed and dissolved as needed by the site council. Subcommittees will record minutes and report back to the site council.

5. Meetings
Mandatory meetings shall be held once a month on days decided at the first meeting of the new school year. Special meetings shall be called at the request of the building principal.
An agenda will be set and minutes recorded for each session. Items for consideration need to be submitted to Merrily to be placed on the agenda. The facilitator shall be elected by the vote of the site council.

Site council is not to be used to complain of personnel issues, change a teachers curriculum or their every day operations of the school.

Attachments: New business agenda-Mission and Vision,
School Boards worksession on mission and vision, Nancy’s handout on vision and mission,

Possible future agenda items

Rules for smooth meetings:
30 second go around-what's happening
Committee reports no longer than 2-3 minutes
Question and Answer period at the end of a report or go around
Concern for repetition of pt. of view, agree to disagree, pts do not need to be elaborated or repeated, open oneself to other view pts
If you cannot make a meeting get a replacement