To: Board Policy Subcommittee
From: Natasha Beery, Director of BSEP and Valerie Tay, BSEP Program Specialist
Date: March 9, 2017
Subject: Amendment to SGC Bylaws: SGC for Small Programs BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
According to the Bylaws for School Governance Councils (SGC) adopted by the Board April 23, 2008, the composition of the site committees at Berkeley Technology Academy (BTA) and Berkeley Independent Study are required to be as follows: BTA = 8 members 4 Staff (+Alternate), including principal or designee; classified staff optional 2 Parents (+Alternate) 2 Students (+Alternate) There must be at least 8 members, with a quorum being 5, at least 2 staff (including the principal or designee), 1 parent and 1 student. Independent Study = 10 members 5 Staff (+Alternate), including principal or designee; classified staff optional 3-4 Parents (+Alternate), with a minimum of 5 parents and students required 1-2 Students (+Alternate), with a minimum of 5 parents and students required There must be at least 10 members, with a quorum being 6, at least 2 staff (including the principal or designee), 2 parents, and 1 student. These requirements have proven a hardship for these small schools whose enrollment seldom exceeds 150 students. BTA currently has approximately 60 students and the Independent Study program 125. Despite outreach, BTA has not been able to elect an SGC this 2016-17 year, although the principal has had casual agreements from one parent and one student to serve. Independent Study is currently operating with 4 staff, 2 parents, and 2 students (+1 Student Alternate). There will also be a stand-alone TK at King CDC, which is not part of a K-5 program and whose conduct is not covered in the existing bylaws. BSEP site funds have been allocated for 53 students. However, without an SGC, there is not a clear way to allocate those funds. PROPOSED AMENDMENT 1- That the Board Policy Subcommittee approve reduction of the requirements for SGCs at sites where there are fewer than 150 students to: Minimum Composition = 4 2 staff (of whom one is Principal or designee) + alternate 1 parents + alternate 1 student + alternate (or at a TK-8 site, another parent/guardian) Quorum = 3 1 staff 1 parent +1 either staff/parent 2- That SGC decisions/action, including the site plan and any changes, must be reviewed by the Assistant Superintendent for Ed Services and then approved by the BSEP Director in consultation with the BSEP Budget Analyst and/or BSEP Program Specialist who will assist small programs with deliberations. 3- That the TK program at King CDC be governed by the current bylaws with the modifications for composition and quorum for smaller schools as above. |