Candidates Sought for Advisory School Councils

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Councils Present Chance to Serve Your Schools
Schools are now accepting declarations of candidacy for Advisory School Council members for the 2009-10 school year (under the provisions of state law and RRPS Policy #328). Parents, school staff members, and Rio Rancho residents who would like to play an active role in their schools are invited to seek election to one of the school district’s 19 advisory school councils for the 2009-10 school year.

Advisory school councils advise school principals on budgets, curriculum, and rules and policies.  School council members are also expected to be champions for students in building community support for schools, develop creative ways to involve parents in schools, and where appropriate, help to connect schools and students to business resources and opportunities.  

School councils consist of two school staff members, two parents, and two community representatives who must be Rio Rancho residents or have a student enrolled in a Rio Rancho public school.  The principal serves as an active member of the council.  Business people who are parents or community members are especially encouraged to run for school councils.  Parents whose children are “graduating” from elementary or middle school may run at the school their child will attend next year.  (For example, parents of children who are “moving up” to 6th grade may run at middle schools.)

Those interested in running for Council positions for next year are required to indicate their interest no later than Friday, May 22 by submitting an application (forms are also available at any Rio Rancho public school or at the district office, 500 Laser Rd. NE.) Candidates will be asked to show ID and proof of residency when submitting their declarations of candidacy.  Elections at individual schools will be held in late July and early August.  Please read the following FAQ's prior to applying:

The district’s two new schools opening in 2009, Rio Rancho Middle School and Cleveland High School, will accept declarations of candidacy until Friday, August 21 and hold elections later in the fall.

What does a school council do?
District Policy 328, following state law, says that school councils “assist the principal in an advisory capacity with school-based decision making and . . . provide parents with the opportunity for greater involvement in their child’s education.”

State law defines the following specific responsibilities school councils are expected to perform:

• Work with the school principal and give advice, consistent with state and school district rules and policies, on policies relating to instructional issues and curricula and on the public school’s proposed and actual budgets;
• Develop creative ways to involve parents in the schools
• Where appropriate, coordinate with any existing work force development boards or vocational education advisory councils to connect students and school academic programs to business resources and opportunities; and
• Serve as the champion for students in building community support for schools and encouraging greater community participation in the public schools.

School councils meet a minimum of four times a year, and may meet more often at the discretion of the principal and the council.  School councils have broad discretion in setting their agendas to meet the needs of their individual schools.

Who may serve on a school council?
Advisory School Councils include parent, school staff, and community members in equal proportion.  The school principal must be an active member of the council.  Policy #328 establishes that school councils in the Rio Rancho Public Schools shall have seven members: two school staff members, two parent members, two community members, and the principal.  The policy permits the council to be reduced to four members if not enough people run for election to fill a seven-member council. 

• School employee members must be currently employed by the Rio Rancho Public Schools at the school on whose council they serve.
• Parent members must have a child currently enrolled at the school on whose council they serve.   
• Community members must reside in Rio Rancho or must have a child enrolled in a Rio Rancho public school.  If possible, one of the community members should be a representative of the business community. 

How does someone run for the council?
Candidates interested in serving on a school council should pick up a declaration of candidacy from any school office or from the Rio Rancho Public Schools District Office at 500 Laser Rd. NE.  Declaration of candidacy forms may also be completed online here.

Parents whose children are not currently enrolled at the school but who will be enrolled by the beginning of the school year may run for that school’s council.  (For example, parents of incoming kindergarten students may run at their child’s elementary school; parents of incoming 6th graders may run at middle schools, etc.)  Parents whose children are affected by boundary changes may run for the council at the school their child will attend next year.   

Forms should be returned in person during regular office hours to the school office of the school where the candidate wishes to serve, or to the district office.  The deadline for filing is Friday, May 22 at the close of the day.  Candidates will be required to show a picture ID at the time they submit their declaration of candidacy.  If a candidate is running for a community member position, he or she must show proof that they reside in Rio Rancho or have a child enrolled in a public school in the Rio Rancho district.

Candidates wishing to serve on the advisory school council for the new Rio Rancho Middle School may file with Principal Amy Torres at Rio Rancho Mid-High, at the school their child currently attends, or at the district office.  Candidates wishing to serve on the advisory school council at Cleveland High may file at the district office, the school their child currently attends, or at Cleveland High once the campus opens. 

When do declarations of candidacy have to be returned?
The deadline is Friday, May 22nd for all schools except new schools.  Filing deadline for Rio Rancho Middle School and Cleveland High School is Friday, August 21.

When is the election?
The election window coincides with the time period when parents/students are registering for school and school staff members are returning to work.  Exact dates will be announced once the school district calendar and school registration dates are established. 

If the number of candidates in a specific category (parent, staff, community) does not exceed the number of available positions, no election is held for that category and those filing declarations of candidacy are simply invited to serve. 

How is the election advertised?
Beginning at least ten days prior to the last day people are allowed to vote, the school must publish a list of candidates on its Web site and on the district Web site, and post the list in its school administrative offices.  At most schools, and on this page, the list will be posted by July 20.  A notice will also be published in a newspaper of general circulation.  Schools may provide information on the process through other means, such as the school newsletter. 

How does the vote take place?
Voters may cast ballots in person in the school office or other designated location(s) on campus during regular school office hours, or at other times as designated by the school (such as during registration hours).  The ballots are deposited in locked ballot boxes.  The school staff will keep a list of those who have voted to prevent people from voting twice.

How is the vote counted?
The vote must be canvassed within two school or business days following the end of the election window.  The canvass is performed by a member of the school staff designated by the principal and a district-level administrator or staff member designated by the Superintendent.  The results are then announced via the Web site, posting in the school office, and communicated through the school newsletter.  The principal will contact all candidates to inform them of the results and to set a first meeting date for the council.

What authority does the school council have?
School councils as established in statute and district policy are advisory in nature and work with the principal to review curriculum, budgets, and other issues as specified by law or requested by the principal.  School councils do not set policy or provide direction (as opposed to advice) to the principal.  Under state law, subject to the general supervision of the superintendent, the principal is responsible for the administration and overall instructional leadership of the school.  Meetings of the council are not subject to the Open Meetings Act because the council is an advisory, not a policy-making, body.

Do members get paid for serving on the council?
Sorry, no.

Where can I learn more?
If you have questions, please feel free to talk to your school’s principal or assistant principal, or you may call 896-0667 ext. 219.