CHALLENGE SCHOOL GOVERNING BOARD/ADVISORY ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE BYLAWS
Article I
THE CHALLENGE SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT:
1. “Our Mission is to inspire, empower and challenge motivated students who are academically advanced or gifted.”
Inspire students’ love of learning - We spark the intellectual curiosity of our students and foster the understanding that learning is an active and ongoing process.
Empower students to excel - We teach students to recognize their abilities and build upon their strengths.
Challenge students in all areas of development - Through a rigorous academic program, we encourage our students to become compassionate and critical thinkers able to communicate their ideas.
Article II
PURPOSE OF THE CHALLENGE SCHOOL GOVERNING BOARD/ADVISORY ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE:
1. Founded in 1994 through parent initiative, the Challenge School is a Cherry Creek School District Magnet School. Unique in its vision, the Challenge School seeks to meet the cognitive and affective needs of academically advanced, motivated and gifted students who traditionally would be enrolled in grades kindergarten through eight. A clear notion of the philosophy and purpose of the program is among the school’s outstanding features. This exciting and innovative vision attracted teachers, students, and parents to join together as partners in the education of the children in this unusual school community.
2. The entire Challenge School is subject to the rules, regulations, and policies of the Cherry Creek School District Board of Education (hereafter referred to as “the BOE”). However, the Challenge School has instituted a Governing Board/Advisory Accountability Committee (hereafter referred to as “the GB/AAC”) to carry out the Challenge School mission and to set school procedure and rules as outlined in the Challenge School Proposal approved by the BOE on February 25, 1994. Consensus decision-making is a hallmark of the GB/AAC. Implementation of GB/AAC procedures and rules is primarily the role of the Principal and Challenge School faculty. Keeping the original vision uppermost in mind during deliberation, the GB/AAC will focus its work on Challenge School rules and procedures and on implementing and evaluating the goals and objectives set forth in the adopted Challenge School Proposal. The GB/AAC will advise the principal on the development, implementation, and review of the Unified Improvement Plan based on student and school performance and achievement. The GB/AAC shall delegate appropriate responsibility to the staff, parents, and students, in order that they might work together to make meaningful decisions about the education of children attending the Challenge School.
Article III
MEMBERSHIP OF THE GOVERNING BOARD/ADVISORY ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE:
1. In compliance with Colorado Department of Education standards for school accountability committees, the GB/AAC shall consist of the following school community members:
A. - Cherry Creek School District Administrator (1)
B. - Challenge School Principal/Assistant to the Principal (2)
C. - Challenge School Faculty (3)
D. - Parents of Challenge School Students (3-6)
E. - PTCO President (1)
F. - Community member - non-school community (1)
G. - PASS Parent (1)
2. Voting privileges will be limited to official committee members as listed above.
Article IV
ELECTION AND TERMS OF OFFICE FOR GOVERNING BOARD/ADVISORY ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
1. An elected member may not serve consecutive terms but may serve additional terms with one year intervening between terms. An appointed member may serve consecutive terms. The GB/AAC shall be comprised as follows:
A. A Cherry Creek School District Administrator shall be appointed by the Superintendent of Cherry Creek School District. The length of the appointment shall be determined by the Superintendent.
B. The Challenge School Principal shall be a permanent member.
C. The faculty members shall be elected by the Challenge School faculty. The three faculty members shall have staggered two-year terms. These members shall maintain positions as current faculty at the Challenge School throughout their terms to remain eligible for membership.
D. If the number of interested parent volunteers exceeds six, members will be selected by the principal and PTCO President.Voting privileges will be limited to these six official committee members. The parent members shall serve staggered two-year terms. The parent members shall have at least one child enrolled at the Challenge School throughout their terms to remain eligible for membership.
E. The standing President of the PTCO shall be a member of the GB/AAC. The election of the PTCO President will be carried out in accordance with the Challenge School’s PTCO bylaws. In the event co-presidents are elected, the co-presidents shall decide which “co-president” will serve as the PTCO representative on the GB/AAC.
F. The community representative shall be appointed by the Principal.
G. In the event a member resigns mid-term, the GB/AAC will appoint a
replacement to serve for the duration of the term vacated.
H. The PASS team member shall be appointed by the Principal
Article V
AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY:
1. The GB/AAC will have the authority and responsibility to develop and support the guiding principles of the educational program procedures and rules that guide the Challenge School in a manner that is consistent with the policies of the BOE.
2. The GB/AAC is a procedure-setting organization and will not be involved in the day-to-day operation of the school. The GB/AAC shall not have access to individual staff, student, or family records; however, the GB/AAC may be given access to situational information so the GB/AAC can review the functionality of the Challenge School.
3. The authority with which the GB/AAC is empowered includes, but is not limited to, the following:
A. Facilitate the implementation of the Challenge School mission.
B. Evaluate and propose the school year calendar as it applies to the Challenge School.
C. Approve and monitor procedures involving the admissions process, adhering to policies approved by the BOE.
D. In collaboration with the Principal, design and approve supplemental staff configuration provided via funding generated by the PTCO or other non-district sources.
E. Participate in and recommend principal selection if a school site committee is approved by district administration. In the event a principal vacancy shall occur, the GB/AAC will appoint or comprise the selection committee that, at a minimum, will include a faculty representative from each staff team. The District Superintendent will make the final selection/approval. The Principal will be responsible for the supervision of Challenge school Faculty. District Administration will be responsible for the supervision of the Principal.
F. Review annual budgets submitted by the Principal.
G. Review teacher scholarship requests and approve of the distribution of allotted funds.
H. Promote partnerships with businesses and the community at large.
4. From time to time the members of the GB/AAC may, in consultation with a parent or others, receive confidential information concerning a staff member, a student or a family. When such information is clearly confidential, the GB/AAC members shall take such information directly to a school administrator, as appropriate, and shall further comply with school board policy, state and federal confidentiality laws in use or disclosure of such information.
Article VI
GUIDELINES FOR MEETINGS:
1. A quorum of seven members must be present to conduct business.
2. Election of a Chairperson, Chair-elect and secretary will occur at the first meeting of each school year. All elected offices shall serve one-year terms.
3. Meetings shall be held bi-monthly during the school year or as determined by the GB/AAC members.
4. The agenda shall be set by the chairperson in consultation with the Principal no fewer than five days prior to the next meeting. The agenda shall be published in the weekly newsletter or be available in the office prior to the meeting. The GB/AAC minutes shall be available to community members in the Challenge School office.
5. An essential role for GB/AAC members is to promote a positive atmosphere through shared decision-making and teamwork, not only among members of the GB/AAC, but also among school community members. In order to promote such an atmosphere, the GB/AAC shall make its decisions by consensus whenever possible. In the absence of a consensus, the simple majority will prevail.
6. General GB/AAC meetings shall be open to the public. Time (established by the GB/AAC) shall be allotted at each meeting for committee reports (by committee chairs or designated others) and for discussion of agenda items.
7. Executive sessions may be called for discussion of matters requiring confidentiality in accordance with School District policy and Colorado state law.
8. On occasions where an immediate decision must be made by the GB/AAC, the Chairperson and the Principal may decide to conduct a vote by telephone or e-mail, whereby a reasonable attempt to reach all GB/AAC members is made. No decision shall be made by telephone without a quorum of seven members reached for a vote.
Article VII
COMMITMENT OF THE GOVERNING BOARD/ADVISORY ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Each member of the GB/AAC is expected to perform the following activities:
1. Become familiar with the mission and vision of the Challenge School and attempt, through deliberation and deed, to act in the best interests of the Challenge School mission and vision and school community.
2. Engage in and encourage communication with members of the Challenge School community so that decisions reflect school-wide agreement as much as possible.
3. Adhere to the rules, regulations, and policies of the BOE, the Challenge School GB/AAC bylaws, and state and federal laws. However, if the GB/AAC feels that a waiver is required in order to function most efficiently and effectively, or to fulfill by the Challenge School Mission Statement, it may request the proposed exception be reviewed and approved by the BOE.
Article VIII
EFFECTIVE DATE AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS:
The proposed bylaws herein and any subsequent amendments to these bylaws will become effective upon ratification by a two-thirds majority vote of the Challenge School Governing Board/Advisory Accountability Committee and approval by the Cherry Creek School District Board of Education.
Challenge School Governing Board Bylaws (September 2013) Page 1