We are a group of Silver Mesa parents who want what is best for our school staff, teachers and students. We believe this can be achieved through a PTO. The district has a policy allowing parents a vote. We first must complete a Notice of Intent and petition and then we will be allowed a vote. This blog will help educate, inform and unite through this process. Keep updated on what is going on here. UPDATE: You should have received a ballot in the mail. If you didn't and want to vote, contact the district. We encourage everyone to study both organizations and vote for the group they believe best represents their ideals.


Monday, August 10, 2015

What do YOU think?

The Canyons School District just had their second reading of a new policy. This policy outlines the steps an organization needs to go through to be able to petition for a vote. This vote would allow an organization other than PTA the opportunity to be the parent organization at a school. This policy will cover not only elementary schools, but middle and high schools as well. I encourage everyone  to read the policy and email the district with your comments. Some points I feel are important are:

  - Ask for a fair chance to vote – the sooner the better – and to keep the process simple.

   - Tell the district that parents are excited by the idea of having an all-inclusive parent group, with an opt-out opportunity, like PTOs in other states have done
   - When it comes to voting, ask that only parents be allowed to weigh in on this decision, since it is their volunteer organization.

E-mail any comments to: nancy.tingey@canyonsdistrict.org and jim.briscoe@canyonsdistrict.org
  
Click on this link to find the policy on the school district website. Find the file that is titled "Revised Clean Version Draft Policy Parent School Support": http://www.boarddocs.com/ut/canyons/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=9YUK5F502F38
 
Below is the entire policy:



BOARD POLICY
 
1.      The Board of Education is committed to a cooperative education partnership among schools, parents/legal guardians, and the broader community.   The Board of Education values parent school support association/organizations as an important asset and valuable volunteer resource to support and unite parents, teachers and students with the mission of Canyons School District.
2.      The Board of Education will recognize only one (1) parent school support association/organization per school in order to align external support with the school’s academic program, behavioral priorities, and culture.  The Board of Education retains the sole right to recognize any parent school support association/organization.  The Board of Education also reserves the right to revoke recognition of any parent school support association/organization.  Recognizing the disruptive nature, financial cost, and impact the dissolution of a parent school support association/organization has on the District, individual school administration, and community, the Board of Education will verify a petition for an election for a new/alternative parent school support association/organization once in a three-year period at an individual school.
3.      The Board of Education delegates to the Superintendent, or designee, the authority to develop procedures and guidelines relating to this policy; to intervene  if a parent or parent school support association/organization engages in conduct the Superintendent deems detrimental to student welfare, the school community or school operations.   The Superintendent and/or designee may limit access to the school for any parent (s) or parent school support organization that is not supportive of the school and the educational mission.
4.      The Board of Education authorizes Superintendent and District Administration to establish administrative regulations consistent with this policy, subject to review and approval by the Board of Education.
 
 
 
ADMIN—REG:  
APPROVED:
TBD
ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION—R:  One (1) Parent School Support Association/Organization per School
 
1.      On behalf of the Board of Education, the Superintendent and District Administration recognizes one (1) parent school support association/organization at each school.
 
 
 
ADMIN—REG:  
APPROVED:
TBD
ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION—R—1:  New/Alternative Parent School Support Association/Organization Procedure
 
The Board of Education, District, and local school are neutral in the selection of a parent school support association/organization.   No endorsement is given or should be implied. Use of District or school logos is not allowed without permission of the District.  
 
All petition and election procedure activities associated with this process shall not occur on school property during school hours or at school functions.   This applies to the current and applicant association/organization.  
 
A new/alternative parent school support association/organization may seek recognition by the Board of Education according to the procedures outlined below.   Please refer to Exhibit—1 illustrating the timing of the procedure.
1.      Step 1 – Notice of Intent/Application:  An applicant association/organization submits a notice of intent to the Office of the Superintendent, including proposed by laws and policies of the association/organization, and 25 individual signatures (electronic signatures are not allowed) of a parent/legal guardian with a student enrolled at the local school, as listed in the official registration files, indicating support of the notice of intent and application.
1.1.   Proposed bylaws and policies must include, but are not limited to:
1.1.1.      A sustainable governance structure, including officers and school representatives.
1.1.2.      Membership provisions:
1.1.2.1.            annual opt-in;
1.1.2.2.            employee participation;
1.1.2.3.            secondary student component..
1.1.3.      Nondiscrimination policies;
1.1.4.      Fiscal accountability practices and procedures requiring an annual review and independent audit.  Verification of an independent audit report must be submitted to the Board of Education or designee; and
1.1.5.      A process for membership approval of an annual budget, including dues, if any.   
1.2.   The District will only accept a notice of intent and application prior to November 1 in the current school year.   
1.3.   The notice of intent and application are reviewed and verified by the Superintendent or designee. This review may take up to 30 calendar days.  
1.4.   The District will notify the applicant association/organization, the current parent school support association/organization, and the Board of Education whether the notice of intent and application is approved and verified.  
1.5.   Once approved and verified, the District will provide the applicant and current associations/organizations a list of parents/legal guardians with a student enrolled at the local school (i.e., directory information as allowed under FERPA).   
 
2.      Step 2 – Petition for Election:  Once the applicant organization receives notice of approval and verification, the applicant organization is provided 45 calendar days to file a petition for election.
2.1.   The petition for election requires signatures (electronic signatures are not allowed)  of at least 25% of the parents/legal guardians at the local school, as listed in the official registration files, in support of an election to determine the recognized parent school support association/organization.
2.2.   During the petition period of 45 calendar days, the applicant association/organization and current association/organization may not collect petition signatures or otherwise engage in the process on school property during school hours, or at school functions.     
2.3.   Once a petition for election is submitted to the Office of the Superintendent, the Superintendent or designee is allowed up to 30 calendar days for verification of the petition for election.
2.3.1.      If the petition for election is verified by the Superintendent, the Superintendent or designee will set an election date and provide notice of the election period.
2.3.2.      If the petition for election is not verified, a subsequent notice of intent and application may not be submitted for that school for at least (3) three years.
 
3.      Step 3 – Election:  Upon verification and notice of an approved petition for election, the Superintendent or designee will designate an election period for 15 calendar days.
3.1.    
The applicant organization and current organization may not actively campaign on school property during school hours, or at school functions.  
3.2.   Election Rules and Procedures:  
3.2.1.      The Superintendent or designee will schedule an election date. Voting will be conducted by secret ballot.
3.2.2.      The District Administration will mail out an official ballot with instructions on how to cast a vote to eligible voters at the address of district record.  Parents are responsible to update their address of record prior to ballots being mailed.
3.2.2.1.            An eligible voter is a parent/legal guardian as listed in the official registration files at the local school, an employee of the school, or a declared member of the current parent group of the local school. 
3.2.3.      Only ballots received or postmarked by the election deadline will be verified and counted. 
3.2.4.      The parent school support association/organization with a majority of the votes cast will become the recognized parent school support association/organization for the next school year commencing on July 1.
3.2.5.      The Board of Education will ratify the election at a Board meeting.  
 
4.      Step 4 – Final Approval: 
4.1.   The prevailing organization has sixty (60) calendar days to provide verification of the following information:    
4.1.1.      proof of application for tax-exempt status, EIN number, charitable solicitation agreement from the State of Utah; and
4.1.2.      insurance coverage meeting individual and group requirements for Utah State Risk Management.
4.2.   Upon verification of the information in 4.1.1 and 4.1.2, the Board of Education will recognize the parent school support association/organization beginning July 1. 
4.3.   If the applicant parent school support association/organization cannot meet the above requirements, the Board of Education will not provide recognition.
 
5.      Miscellaneous:
5.1.   If a parent school support association/organization dissolves prior to July 1 in a current school year, a former parent school support association/organization may be recognized at the discretion of the Board.   
5.2.   Any situations or disputes that arise regarding the validity of a document, parent/legal guardian signature, election procedures, or any other circumstances that arise from these procedures, the Superintendent or designee will make the final decision.
5.3.   A request for the review of a decision made by the Superintendent or designee must be made within five (5) calendar days.    
 
REFERENCES
None
FORMS
None

CANYONS BOARD OF EDUCATION
 

 

This online presentation is an electronic representation of the Canyons School District’s currently adopted policy manual.   It does not reflect updating activities in progress.   The official, authoritative manual is available for inspection in the office of the Superintendent located at 9150 South 500 West Sandy, UT 84070.

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