Community Involvement in Decision Making
NEPN/NSBA Code: KCB

The School Committee recognizes that the ultimate responsibility of the elected board is to provide lay governance of the schools as prescribed by law. However, the School Committee endorses the concept that citizen, parent, teacher, support staff and student participation in the affairs of the school is essential to improve teaching and learning. Further, the School Committee endorses the concept that if the appropriate people are brought together in constructive ways, with reliable information, they will create effective responses to the issues and opportunities facing the Yarmouth School System. Therefore, the School Committee directly and through its administrative staff will encourage the involvement of the community in decision making.

Residents, employees and students who are especially qualified because of interest, expertise or experience shall be encouraged to assume an active role in school affairs. From time to time, such persons may be invited by the School Committee to serve as advisors, individually and in groups, in such areas as the following:

  1. Clarifying general ideas and attitudes held by the Yarmouth community;

  2. Assisting in the development of School Committee policies under which the school system is to be managed;

  3. Establishing regulations designed to help implement these policies;

  4. Assist in determining special services to be provided for students;

  5. Evaluating the extent to which school improvement plans are being achieved; and

  6. Solving a specific problem or set of closely related problems about which a decision must be made.

It will be the policy that new educational programs and/or innovations in educational methods gain the support of a variety of stakeholder groups before the School Committee is asked to take official action at a regular scheduled meeting.

In addition, the School Committee directs its administrative staff to develop open channels of communication through:

  1. System-wide and local school public information programs, and

  2. Solicitation and receipt of community counsel through formal advisory committees (system-wide and for each school) and through informal means as well.

Legal Reference: 20-A MRSA§1001 et seq.

Cross Reference: BDF - Advisory Committees to the School Committee

Adopted: May 23, 1996

Revised: ________