102.01

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Parent-Teacher Associations/Organizations

Parent-Teacher Associations/Organizations may be established for each attendance unit in the District.

The building administrator for each attendance unit shall serve as the officer representing the District.

Each attendance unit organization may be a member of a Districtwide Parent-Teacher Council whose purpose shall be to coordinate the efforts of the individual units toward common goals.

Each association/organization shall determine their own rules governing membership and attendance.

The school-related activities shall be evaluated by the administrator assigned to that attendance center.

• Cross Reference: Board Policy 103.09 Soliciting Funds from Students

• By action of the Board 9/20/76, 12/13/82 ; Reviewed 1/26/98; Revised 03/17/03

• Edited 03/03

102.02

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Citizen Advisory Groups

The Board  may from time to time appoint Citizen Advisory Committees to study matters pertaining to the educational needs of the school district. Such committees shall deal with specific needs identified and recognized by school officials.

Such needs may be recommended for study by staff members or groups, interested lay people, and/or community organizations generally related to the schools.

The assignment of any committee so formed by the Board shall be clearly stated in the Board resolution establishing the committee. Such a statement shall include whether the committee is to make recommendations, findings, or merely to gather information. The functions of citizen advisory committees shall be fulfilled upon making a final report to the Board.

Final selection of Citizen Advisory Committees shall be made by the Board as a whole. Membership should be limited to individuals who are willing to devote time and attention to the matter under consideration. As a matter of basic policy, such committees shall be representative of the community as a whole and membership should, whenever possible, come from various areas in the school district.

Expenses of the committee members shall be reimbursed by the Board if the expenses are approved in advance by the Board. The District shall provide a meeting place for these committees. All board-appointed Citizen Advisory Committees are subject to the rules and procedures set forth in the Code of Iowa, Open Meetings Law.

The chairperson of the Citizen Advisory Committees shall convene meetings of the membership and proceed with the work to be done. A recorder shall be assigned by the committee. A summary of each meeting including a listing of the attendees and absentees of the committee will be forwarded to the Board Secretary for distribution to members of the Board and the Superintendent. The chairperson shall maintain liaison with the Superintendent and shall be responsible for the preparation of a final report to be presented to the Board.

The committee working through the directives of the chairperson, shall have at its disposal such reasonable information and resources as is necessary for the successful completion of its work. The final report to the Board shall contain the findings of the committee, and, where appropriate, make suggestions or recommendations for consideration of the Board.

• Legal References: Code of Iowa Chapter 279.8, 279.20, .23, .23A, .25 (1989) 281 Iowa Admin. Code 12.3(4) (New Standards)

• By action of the Board 9/20/76, Revised 12/13/82, Revised 9/17/90; Reviewed 1/26/98; Revised 5/8/00; Reviewed 10/22/07

• Edited 10/07

102.05

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Citizen Involvement in Curriculum Study

An attempt should be made by members of the Instructional Department to select at least three citizens to serve as members in an advisory capacity during any curriculum study.

• Cross References: Board Policies 602.06 Curriculum Development; 602.07 Curriculum Implementation; 602.08 Curriculum Evaluation; 604.07 Selection of Instructional Materials

• By action of the Board 9/20/76; Revised 12/13/82, Reviewed 7/8/91; Revised 1/12/98; Revised 03/17/03

• Edited 03/03

102.06

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Citizen Assistance to School Personnel

The Board encourages the use of community resources and citizens to assist in furthering the educational program of the District. One of the greatest resources available may be found in the citizens of the community who have special knowledge and particular talents to contribute to the educational programs.

The use of outside personnel and resources will be under regulations approved by the Superintendent.

• Cross References: Board Policies 102.02 Citizen Advisory Groups; 102.05 Citizen Involvement in Curriculum Study

• By action of the Board 9/20/76, Revised 12/13/82, Reviewed 7/8/91; Reviewed 1/26/98; Revised 03/17/03

• Edited 03/03

102.07

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Long-Range Needs Assessment

Long-range needs assessment enables the District to analyze assessment data, to obtain feedback from the community regarding its expectations of students, and to determine how well students are meeting student learning goals. The Board shall conduct ongoing and in-depth needs assessment, soliciting information from business, labor, industry, higher education and community members regarding their expectations as to the preparation required for students to become productive citizens and successful wage earners.

In conjunction with the in-depth needs assessment of the school district, the Board shall authorize appointment of a Local School Improvement Advisory Committee including representation from administrators and other district employees, parents, students and community members. This advisory committee shall make recommendations to the Board and assist the Board in determining District priorities in addition to the basic skills priorities of the education program.

It shall be the responsibility of the Superintendent or superintendent's designee to ensure community members are informed of students' progress on state and local determined indicators. The Superintendent or superintendent's designee shall report annually to the Board about the means used to keep the community informed.

Feedback regarding District progress on identified priorities and student achievement goals shall be provided the community on an ongoing basis. Vehicles for providing ongoing feedback shall include, but not be limited to:

•  newspaper articles and inserts

• district brochures

• television and radio programs

• district and building newsletters

•  the district website and the district dashboard

• community forums or town meetings

• building or regional meetings

• student/teacher conferences

• meetings of the Local School Improvement Advisory Committee

• displays of reports and other pertinent District documents at such sites as the Davenport Public Library

• presentations during meetings of service organizations

• televised reports to the Board of Education.

As part of the District's K-3 Early Intervention Plan, the Superintendent or superintendent's designee shall ensure that kindergarten through grade 3 parents/guardians are informed at least biannually of their individual children's performance, especially in the area of reading. Methods used to inform parents/guardians regarding their individual children's performance shall include at least one scheduled parent conference per year, quarterly report cards, and end-of-year letters. End-of-year letters shall inform parents/guardians as to their individual children's grade level equivalent status in reading and as to whether their individual children meet, exceed, or fail to meet district standards in reading.

As a result of the work of the Board and the Local School Improvement Advisory Committee, the Board shall:

• determine major educational needs and rank them in priority order

• develop long-range goals and plans to meet the identified needs

• establish and implement short-range and intermediate-range plans to meet the goals and to attain the desired levels of student performance; evaluate progress toward meeting the goals; maintain a record of progress under a plan that includes reports of student performance 

• evaluate progress toward meeting the goals

• maintain a record of progress under a plan that includes reports of student performance and results of school improvement projects

• annually report the District's progress made under the plan to the committee, community, and the Iowa Department of Education.

• Legal References: Code of Iowa §§ 21: 356.7; 280.12, .18 (1997); 281 I.A.C. 12.3(3); 12.8(1(b)

• Cross References: Board Policy 100 District Philosophy; 102.02 Citizen Advisory Groups; 701.2 School Facilities Survey; 703.02 Site Acquisition; 901.02 Legal Status of the Board

• By action of the Board 9/17/90; Reviewed 1/26/98; Revised 5/8/00; Revised 7/9/01; Reviewed 10/22/07 with further consideration during 2007-08

• Edited 10/07