Site Based Decision Making Committee Members & By-Laws
Committee Members
- Michelle Gabriel, Principal
- Gale Haynes, Assistant Principal
- Erin Price, Counselor
- Connie Hershey, Teacher
- Victoria McKinney, Teacher
- Rachel Nelson, Teacher
- Amy Zorka, Teacher
- Michelle Ishizuka, Teacher
- Gaya Jefferson, District Rep
- Nhu Nguyen, Parent
- Gabriela Perez-Leon, Parent
- Mark Morris, Community Member
- Rhonda Morris, Community Member
- Tiffany Sutton, Business Community Member
- Kisha Simon, Business Community Member
Campus By-Laws
Article I - Name
The campus‐level team shall be known as the Forestridge Elementary Site‐Based Decision-Making Team.
Article II - Purpose
The purpose of the Forestridge Elementary Site‐Based Decision‐Making Team is to improve the level of student achievement for all students at Forestridge Elementary School.
Article III - Membership
Section 1 - Size and Composition
The Forestridge Elementary SBDM team must have a core group of 15 members.
The CORE group of fifteen members shall be established annually, no later than Labor Day of each school year, and will consist of:
- The campus principal
- Six classroom teachers (nominated and elected by teachers only to serve on the Site‐Based Decision-Making Team, with the elected supervised by the Principal and members of the Site‐Based Decision-Making Team). Teachers are professional personnel with classroom teaching responsibilities of at least four hours during the instructional day.
- One campus-based non-teaching professional staff member (nominated and elected by non-teaching professional staff only with the elected supervised by the Principal and members of the Site‐Based Decision-Making Team). Campus-based non-teaching professional staff includes those who hold a professional certificate but do not teach for at least four hours during the instructional day.
- One district-level professional staff member (nominated and elected by professional staff with the elected supervised by the Principal and members of the Site‐Based Decision-Making Team). A district-level staff member is one who serves multiple campuses.
- Two parents (elected by parents only with the election to be supervised by the campus parent group; membership in the campus parent group is not required). A parent is a person who is a parent of, or who stands in parental relation to, a student enrolled at the campus.
- Two community members (selected by the Principal and elected members). Community members must reside in the district and must be at least 18 years of age. [Education Code 11.251(c)(4)]. They must not be a parent or a District employee. They must be representative of the community’s diversity.
- Two business community members (selected by the Principal and elected members). Business representatives need not reside in nor operate businesses in the district. [Education Code 11.251(b)] They should be representative of the community’s diversity.
- In addition, individuals, as determined by the fifteen core members, may be added so that all the school’s major constituent groups are adequately represented (i.e. classroom teachers, parents, teacher assistants, other support personnel, community and/or business representatives, and/or students); however, the overall committee shall be balanced with no one constituent group over‐represented on the committee. The core group of fifteen shall ensure that racial and gender diversity is reflected on the team.
- At least two‐thirds of team members who represent campus-based selected staff must be teachers (professional personnel with classroom teaching responsibilities for at least four hours of the instructional day).
The Principal shall furnish an up‐to‐date list of names and addresses of all members on the Site‐Based Decision-Making Team to the Superintendent or designee no later than 15 working days after Labor Day.
When team members are added or replaced during the school year, the Principal is responsible within 15 working days for sending to the Superintendent or designee an updated list with the names and addresses of new members.
Section 2 - Elections
Parent Representatives
The predominant parent group supervises the election of parent representatives.
This election occurs during the third week in May each year in preparation for the upcoming school year. Nominations are open to all PTA members who receive a notification via email and phone that nominations are open. Nominations will close one week after they begin. Once nominations are officially closed an email with the link to vote will be sent to the entire school community voting will close 1 week after the election. Announcement of elected members will be done via email, phone and the school newsletter.
Teacher Representatives, Campus‐Based Non‐teaching Professional Staff Member, and District‐Level Professional Staff Member.
The election of teacher representatives of the campus‐based professional staff member and the district‐level professional staff member is supervised by the Principal and members of the Site‐Based Decision-Making Team. Teachers vote for teachers, campus-based professional staff members vote for the campus‐based professional staff representative and all professional staff vote for the district‐level professional staff member. The Site‐Based Decision-Making Team shall elect the Site‐Based Decision-Making Team representative among the Site‐Based Decision-Making Team faculty member representatives.
Section 3 - Terms
The Chair will hold a two-year term. A chairperson may hold up to two consecutive terms, for a lifetime maximum of two terms.
The Vice-Chair will hold a two-year term. The vice chair may hold up to two consecutive terms, for a lifetime maximum of two terms.
The Secretary will hold a one-year term. The secretary may hold up to three consecutive terms.
The timekeeper will hold a one-year term. The timekeeper may hold up to two consecutive terms.
Section 4 - Officers (Co-Chaired by the Principal)
Chair (2 years)
- Prepares committee meeting agendas with the assistance of the Principal
- Guides meetings and encourages input from all members
Vice-Chair (2 Years)
- Performs Chair’s duties in his/her absence
- Serves as the chair of the Evaluation and Modification Committee
Scribe/Recorder/Secretary (1 years)
- Prepares and maintains minutes of committee meetings
- Maintains committee membership roster and by-laws
Facilitator/Timekeeper (1 years)
- Monitors committee’s energy and interaction
- Keeps committee on track and ensures activities are completed in a timely manner
Section 5 - Attendance
Elected officials must attend 75% of meetings held to maintain active voting status as a committee member.
Section 6 - Vacancies
A vacancy in an elected position must be filled by election. A vacancy in a selected position is filled by selecting the remaining team members.
Article IV - Committees
Standing committees, subcommittees, special committees, or task forces may be established or abolished as necessary to examine issues in-depth and develop recommendations to bring to the Site‐Based Decision-Making Team. The Principal shall co-chair all committees and subcommittees.
Article V - Meetings
Section 1 - Regular Meetings
At least four meetings per year outside of the school day are required by policy. The regular meetings of the team shall be held on November 30, February 1, March 29, and May 17 from 4:00-5:00 PM.
Section 2 - Special Meetings
Special meetings may be called with 3 days’ notice.
Section 3 - Submission of Items for the Meeting Agenda
Submission of items for the meeting agenda must occur not less than 3 days prior to the meeting date. Members of Stakeholders will submit agenda items via email to be added to the agenda. The agenda will be forward to board members for approval 2 days prior to the meeting. Accepted agendas will be forwarded to committee members 24 hours before the meeting is to occur. Items not addressed in the agenda may be addressed during new business. Items being decided on must have a quorum to go to vote.
Section 4 - Communication of members with the larger school community
Meeting times, agendas, and minutes
Meeting times will be advertised via Blackboard call, email, posted on the marquee and added to the school newsletter.
Annual Meeting
A public meeting will be held once a year, after receiving the annual campus rating from the Texas Education Agency, to discuss the performance of the campus and the campus performance objectives. The Site‐Based Decision-Making committee is the representative body through which the faculty may bring forth questions, concerns, and recommendations for the Site‐Based Decision-Making Team to consider for the benefit of the school.
Article VI - Meetings
Section 1 - Defined role in Decision Making
The Principal is to consult regularly and receive input from the team in planning, budgeting, curriculum, school organization, staffing patterns, and staff development. The Site‐Based Decision-Making Team must approve the staff development portions of the Campus Improvement Plan (CIP).
The Principal is responsible and accountable for all decisions made at the campus level. The Principal’s responsibility is to ensure that all decisions comply with local and state policy. The Site‐Based Decision-Making Team’s role is advisory, and its input into decision-making is intended to improve the quality of decisions made by the Principal.
Section 2 - Methods for reaching agreement
Parliamentary procedures will be followed and decisions will be motioned and seconded. A Majority vote will determine the actions taken. The method of decision-making will be a majority vote.
