School Site Plan

The School Site Council (SSC) was developed to be the vehicle by which the school community would come together to chart the school's path to improvement.

SSC is responsible for the following:

• Developing, monitoring, and updating the Single Plan for Student Achievement– the document presented to and ratified by the School Board outlining the educational goals and objectives of Walnut Acres Elementary School. The current Plan focuses on goals in math, language arts, science, technology, and school climate.

• Approving the Single Plan budget.

• Addressing issues raised by parents and staff such as safety, resources, student achievement, and student conduct.

• Reviewing staff reports on curricular and extracurricular activities and parent reports on community activities and sentiments.

• Monthly Site Council Meetings are open to the community.

SSC Agendas

9/24/2021 Agenda

10/7/2021 Agenda

SSC Minutes

9/24/2021 Minutes LINK

10/7/2021 Minutes LINK

SSC Bylaws

WALNUT ACRES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL BYLAWS

Contents

Approved on February 5, 2004, by the Walnut Acres Elementary School Site Council.

Approved on April 6, 2006, by the Walnut Acres Elementary School Site Council.

Approved on April 3, 2008, by the Walnut Acres Elementary School Site Council.

Approved on April 2, 2009, by the Walnut Acres Elementary School Site Council.

Approved on February 2, 2012, by the Walnut Acres Elementary School Site Council.

Approved on April 3, 2014, by the Walnut Acres Elementary School Site Council.

Article I     Purpose

Section A:  Duties

The School Site Council of Walnut Acres Elementary School, hereinafter referred to as the Council, shall carry out the following duties:

• Obtain recommendations for and review the proposed Single Plan for Student Achievement;

• Develop and approve the plan and related expenditures in accordance with all state and federal laws and regulations;

• Recommend the plan and expenditures to the governing board for approval;

• Provide ongoing review of the implementation of the plan with the principal, teachers and other school staff members;

• Make modifications to the plan whenever the need arises;

• Submit the modified plan for governing board approval whenever a material change (as defined in district governing board policy) is made in planned activities or related expenditures;

• Annually, (and as appropriate), evaluate the progress made toward school goals to raise the academic achievement of all students; and

• Carry out all other duties assigned to the Council by the district governing board and by state law.​

Article II   Members

Section A:  Composition

The Council shall be composed of 10-12 members, elected by peers, as follows:

• Four-five classroom teachers. Representatives of classroom teachers elected by classroom teachers of the school.

• One other school personnel. Other school personnel elected by other school personnel.

• Five-six parents or community members. Parents of pupils attending the school or other community members elected by parents.

• The school principal shall be a voting member of the Council.

“Classroom teachers” (e.g. Special Day Class teachers, Resource teachers, ELD teachers delivering core curriculum or electives) shall comprise the majority of school staff.

To ensure broad representation, “other school personnel” shall be interpreted to include such persons as classified (e.g. clerical, instructional assistants, noon supervisors, custodians), support personnel (e.g. librarians, speech-language pathologists, psychologists), and/or administrative personnel (e.g. vice principals).

“Parents” means a person who is the mother, father, or legal guardian, or one acting in locoparentisof a pupil attending this school. Council members chosen to represent parents may be employees of the school district so long as they are not employed at this school site.  The Walnut Acres Parent Faculty Club president may be nominated and his/her name placed on the ballot for parent members.

Article III    Nominations/Elections

Section A:  Term of Office

Council members shall be elected for two-year terms.  Half, or the nearest approximation thereof, of each representative group shall be elected during odd years, and the remaining number elected during even years.  At the first regular meeting of the Council, each member’s current term of office shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. If the Parent Faculty Club president serves on the council he or she shall be a member of the site council only for the term of his/her presidency (not to exceed two years).

Section B:  Voting Rights

Each member is entitled to one vote and may cast that vote on any matter submitted to a vote of the Council.  Absentee ballots shall not be permitted.

Section C:  Termination of Membership

A member shall no longer hold membership should he or she cease to be a resident of the area or no longer meets the membership requirements under which he or she was selected.  Membership may terminate for any member who is absent from all regular meetings for a period of three consecutive months, by an affirmative vote of a quorum of its members.  (Exceptions may be granted if the absentee member submits a written statement to the Council requesting continuance of their membership.)

Any elected member may terminate his or her membership by submitting a written letter of resignation to the Council chairperson.

Section D:  Transfer of Membership

Membership on the Council may not be assigned or transferred.

Section E:  Alternates

Electing non-voting alternate members, who become voting members in the event of a mid-term vacancy on the Council, assures School Site Council continuity.

Section F:  Vacancy

Any vacancy on the Council occurring during the term of a duly elected member shall be filled by oneof the following:  Special elections (following regular election procedures); appointment by the Council for the period of time until the next regular election; or the seating of a previously elected alternate member to fill the remainder of the term of the vacant seat.

Article IV    Officers

Section A:  Officers

The officers of the Council shall be a chairperson, roving secretary*, and other officers the Council may deem desirable.

The Chairperson shall:

• Be the Principal;

• Preside at all meetings of the Council;

• Sign all letters, reports and other communications of the Council;

• Perform all duties incident to the office of the chairperson;

• Solicit agenda items from all members of the Council and establish the agenda; and

• Have other such duties as are prescribed by the Council.

• Designate a school site council member to lead a meeting in her absence.

The Roving Secretary shall:

• Keep minutes of all regular and special meeting of the Council;

• Transmit true and correct copies of the minutes of such meetings to members of the Council;

• Provide all notices in accordance with these bylaws;

• Be custodian of the records of the Council;

• Keep a register of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of each member of the Council; and

• Perform other such duties as are assigned by the chairperson or the Council.

*Roving Secretary – Monthly volunteer who performs all secretarial duties.

Section B:  Election and Terms of Office

The officers shall be elected annually, at the first meeting of the Council, and shall serve for one year, or until each successor has been elected.

Section C:  Removal of Officers

Any officer may be removed from his/her office by a quorum vote of all the members.

Section D:  Vacancy

A vacancy in any office shall be filled at the earliest opportunity by a special election of members of the Council, for the remaining portion of the term of office.

Article V    Committees

Section A:  Sub-committees

The Council may establish and abolish sub-committees of their own membership to perform duties as shall be prescribed by the Council.  At least one member representing teachers and one member representing parents shall make up the subcommittee.  No sub-committee may exercise the authority of the Council.

Section B:  Other Standing and Special Committees

The Council may establish and abolish standing or special committees with such composition and to perform such duties as shall be prescribed by the Council.  No such committee may exercise the authority of the Council.

Section C:  Membership

Unless otherwise determined by the Council, the Council chairperson shall appoint members of standing or special committees.

Section D:  Terms of Office

The Council shall determine the terms of office for members of a committee.

Section E:  Rules

Each committee may adopt rules for its own government not inconsistent with these bylaws or rules adopted by the Council, or policies of the district governing board.

Section F:  Quorum

A majority of the members of a committee shall constitute a quorum, unless otherwise determined by the Council.  The act of a majority of the members present shall be the act of a committee, provided a quorum is in attendance.

Section G:  Vacancy

A vacancy in the membership of any committee may be filled by an appointment made in the same manner as provided in the case of the original appointment.

Article VI    Meetings

Section A:  Meetings

The Council shall meet regularly once a month.  Special meetings of the Council may be called by the chairperson or by a majority vote of the Council.

Section B:  Place of Meetings

The Council shall hold its regular meetings at a facility provided by the school, unless such a facility is not accessible to the public, including handicapped persons.  Alternate meeting places may be determined by the chairperson or by majority vote of the Council.

Section C:  Notice of Meetings

Written public notice shall be given of all meetings at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting.  Changes in the established date, time or location shall be given special notice.  All meetings shall be publicized in the following venues: Walnut Acres Website, and campus display case.  Posting of the meeting agenda constitutes public notice.

All required notices shall be delivered to Council and committee members, no less than 72 hours, in advance of meetings.

Section D:  Quorum

A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum.

Section E:  Decisions of the Council

The act of a majority of the members present shall be the act of the Council, provided a quorum is in attendance, and no decision may otherwise be attributed to the Council.

Section F:  Conduct of Meetings

Meetings of the Council shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of order established by Education Code Section 3147(c), and with Robert’s Rules of Orderor an adaptation thereof approved by the Council.

Section G.  Meetings Open to the Public

All meetings of the Council, and of committees established by the Council, shall be open to the public.  Notice of such meetings shall be provided in accordance with Section C of the article.

Section H.  Agendas

Items may be given to the chairperson of the Council one week prior to the next meeting.  They must be with the scope of the Council’s duties as described in Article I.  The chairperson shall report to the Council items that are in conflict of the article.  Items may not be submitted anonymously.  The chairperson shall inform the originator of an agenda item if it has been rejected.  Non-agenda items may be voted upon by unanimous decision of the members present.  A special meeting may be called to resolve the issue when a unanimous decision has not been reached.

Article VII    Amendments

An amendment of these bylaws may be made at any regular meeting of the Council by a vote of the majority of the members present.  Written notice of the proposed amendment must be submitted to Council members at least 72 hours prior to the meeting at which the amendment is to be considered for adoption.

The bylaws will be reviewed annually and updated as needed.

ELAC Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the English Language Advisory Council (ELAC) at Walnut Acres are being assumed by the Walnut Acres School Site Council for a period of two years – through the  2013-14 and 2014-15 school years. At the end of this two year period, the principal must again form the schools ELAC, which may again consider delegating its responsibilities to the School Site Council. State mandated purposes of the ELAC are:

• To assist the school in writing a plan that explains in detail how the school will be helping students learn English.

• To assist the school in identifying the needs of students parents, and teachers.

• To review data on ELL students’ academic performance.

• To assist the school in identifying students who are learning English.

• To assist the school in communicating with parents (eg. attendance).