THE CLARK COVENANT

We Believe:

• All students at all levels must learn their role as a citizen in a multicultural democracy.
  
  
• All students at all levels can be successful when given access to the highest levels of curriculum in a variety of ways and environments.
  
  
• Learning is characterized by the active participation of all students at all levels. A constant feature of the learning process is its emphasis on manipulatives, teamwork, individual learning styles, multiculturalism, technology, and applied learning.
  
  
• Learning should take place in a safe, comfortable, physically attractive environment and in an atmosphere of respect and fairness.
  
  
• Learning is maximized in small, intimate families composed of caring students and adults.
  
  
• The role of the teacher is to guide learning through a variety of standards-based instructional strategies.
  
  
• Learning begins with commitment by all stakeholders to be on time and prepared.
  
  
• Learning develops the capacity for critical thought and effective communication by ensuring that all students at all levels learn to read, write, reflect and report.
  
  
• Learning is goal-oriented and develops a sense of personal commitment by all students at all levels to themselves, the school and community, our country, and the global community.
  
  
• The school and community, and all stakeholders have the responsibility to address the academic, social, physical, and psychological needs of all students.
  
  
• All students have the right to be included in all community school activities.
  
  
• The whole child is best developed when applied learning and fine arts are part of the core curriculum.
  
  
• Learning is improved when all stakeholders are represented in shared decision making.
  
  
• Life long learning is promoted by a school that serves its community, and a community that serves its school.
  
  
• It is the school's responsibility to support learning by offering students the opportunity to participate in extended day programs.
  
  
• Assessment should drive instruction, be ongoing, foster individual learning styles and be demonstrable.
  
  
• Learning is improved when all stakeholder groups participate in and implement professional growth activities that are meaningful and relevant. 
  
  

THE CLARK CHARTER

 Preamble

It is our belief that we should maintain an emphasis on teaching and learning. Accountability and responsibility are two key words describing our democratic decision-making process. We strive to be open to new ideas and work through consensus or voting to arrive at decisions. Once group decisions are made, we all are expected to support them. Decisions, as well as this charter, are reevaluated as necessary. It is our continual mission to improve the instructional program and to develop school renewal activities that meet the needs of all our students.

Charge

We seek to uphold our school covenant of teaching and learning principles through the following actions:

• To display concern for the total student and the needs of the school as a whole
• To foster an inviting and cooperative learning environment
• To be creative decision makers and problem solvers
• To communicate information systematically
• To develop internal leadership ability
• To be risk takers
• To stay informed
• To continuously evaluate our decisions, activities, and results for students
• To recognize and celebrate our successes 

Scope of the Work

The governance team is responsible for the following tasks:

1. Gathering information and ideas from all stakeholders, through the communication groups
   
   
2. Establishing goals and priorities for school-wide and community improvements and organizing special task forces
   
   
3. Making decisions on recommendations from the task forces
   
   
4. Collecting and evaluating evidence of school-wide improvement
   

The scope of authority will involve core-impact decisions. Core impact decisions are those that enact the covenant. These include:

• Curriculum
• Staff development
• Coaching
• Instructional programs
• Student assessment
• Instructional supply budget

The focus of the governance team and the School Site Council will be on what we as a school community should do better to educate all our students. The following areas will be restricted from consideration:

• Personal or individual issues
  
  
• Issues in the realm of normal operational or organization procedures (administrative or instructional) until a need for improvement has been identified by a communication group
  
  
• Issues at variance with established policies of local and state boards of education and other outside governing agencies.
  

As all stakeholders gain experience in shared decision-making, the focus of the governance team should be expanded to include the issues of site-based management: total school budget, hiring of personnel, placement of personnel and personnel evaluation.

Decision Making Process

Concerns submitted to the council that are not within the scope of shared governance will be referred to the appropriate group or individual.

The governance team and School Site Council will follow these procedures:

1. Task force or committee chairperson submits recommendations in writing to the council to be placed on the agenda.
   
   
2. The council reviews, revises, accepts, or rejects the recommendation by consensus. Consensus will mean agreement of all members present.
   
   
3. If consensus is not reached on a decision, representatives return to their communication groups for additional feedback.
   
   
4. The council meets a second time, to try to reach consensus.
   
   
5. If consensus is still not forthcoming, recommendations will be voted on.
   
   
6. A three-fourths majority of the council will suffice for a final decision.
   
   
7. If there is not a three-fourths majority, administration will make the decision on the issue that was presented.
   
   

Meeting Schedules

The school council will meet at least once a month and more often if necessary. A quorum will be 50% + 1. Communication groups (house meetings) will meet one Wednesday a month and more often if necessary.

Task forces will meet for the first time as scheduled by the vice-chairperson of the council. After the initial meeting, they will determine their own schedule of meetings, based on convenient times for members and the number of meetings deemed necessary to accomplish the group's specific task.

Standing committees will determine their own schedule for meetings, normally at least once a quarter. All meetings are open to all members of the school community.

Communication

Members communicate regularly as follows:

• Communication groups will consist of certificated and classified staff members assigned by house. Staff not assigned to a house will be randomly assigned. An elected member of the governance team will lead each communication group. Groups will meet monthly with their council representatives to share information and to discuss concerns and ideas for school-wide improvements. Parents and students will use their respective organizations (PTA, ASB) as organization groups.
  
  
• Special task forces will be formed on the basis of school-wide concerns for renewal. Each task force chairperson will be responsible for making progress reports and recommendations in writing to the council. A recorder will be selected to take minutes of each meeting. Minutes will be given to the vice-chairperson of the council, who will serve as the liaison between the governance team and the task forces.
  
  
• Standing committees will be established by the governance team to deal primarily with student discipline, facilities, school climate, fundraising, and coordination of social services. The composition of the committees will reflect the representation of those most affected by the matters under discussion. Membership will include staff, parents, students, and community leaders.
  
  
• Total group interactions
  
  
• E-mail
  
  
• Bulletins and flyers
  
  
• Face to face, telephone trees, agendas submitted via agenda submittal form (easily accessible to all stakeholders)
  

Representation

• 1 Classified Representative
• 2 Support Staff
• 10 Classroom Teachers (1 SDTA Rep, 1 ELL Rep, 2 reps from 6th, 7th, 8th and 2 at-large)
• 1 Administrator
• 1 Other Staff Person (XDC)
• 4 Parents
• 2 Students (one vote)
• 5 Community/Business Partners (SDSU) 

Members serve for two-year terms. Each year, half of the group will rotate out in June while the other half will continue to serve the second year of their term.

In the event of a vacancy on the Governance Team, the governance chair will select a person to temporarily fill a vacated position (to the end of the current school year).