School Site Councils

PSTA has heard your concerns of outside consultants coming to your campuses, specifically, the sites who have hired West Ed to lead them through the Teach 4 Success program. You may not be aware that these consultants are NOT hired at the district level but at your own site level.

To seek a remedy look no further than your own School Site Council (SSC). This is the body that approves expenditures for each site. This council comprised of parents, teachers and administration at the elementary level and at the secondary level, students may also serve. ALL members are to be elected by their peers- not selected.

The Council is weighted so that teachers are the majority of the 'school half' and an equal number of parents/community members/students make up the 'other half'. This is not an assignment for the faint at heart. It is a powerful position that can impact what happens at your site.

If you do not want outside consultants but would rather fund extra bodies to support the work you do with your students, then that should be stated at a school site council meeting. Voting to approve an administrator's suggestion for professional development without discussion is not how a SSC should be run.

The School Site Council at each site will be developing a Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) for the upcoming school year in the next few months. Find out who serves on your council and let them know your wishes. Each Council meeting is a public meeting, so visitors can be present. As a visitor you can only speak during the time for public comments, but you can certainly watch what is happening.

Next year, run for a position on this Council and speak up for what you know will benefit students and the staff at your site.