How many parents can get involved in the School Advisory Committee?

Parents are encouraged to attend the monthly meeting of the SAC committee at their child’s school.

Why is it important for parents to be involved in SAC?

• The SAC committee provides a place where parents can voice their opinions and suggestions. They have an active role in making decisions that will best serve the students.
• SAC also gives the opportunity for parents to actively participate in setting goals and making plans to achieve those academic goals.
• SAC allows parents to identify issues that need to be addressed concerning the school climate.
  
  

What is SAF?

The School Advisory Forum (SAF) is open to all members of the school and community. The Forum has one member to report to the School Advisory Council, which then sends a representative to the district SAC. The district SAC acts as advisors, mentors, and advocates to both the district and to each school advisory council. At a School Advisory Forum all present will:

• Plan, develop, and implement parent/community programs and training activities.
• Address parent/community concerns; work with administration to solve problems and initiate desired changes.
• Identify and coordinate the use of community resources to improve student achievement and school effectiveness.
• Participate in increasing/sustaining high levels of community support for the school.
• Assist SAC in identifying the educational needs and priorities of the school.
• Participate in the preparation of the budget, and review budget related concerns.
• Advocated for positive change in the school.
• Remain current with school, district, state, and national issues.
• Jointly, members work with the School Board, Superintendent, and local government officials.

Facilities, Safety, Legislative, ESE, ESOL, Boundaries, Curriculum, dress code, and Transportation are all issues addressed by SAF.

What can be accomplished if I participate in SAF?

Over the years, it has been parents, teachers, community members, etc. who have made positive changes in schools. These changes can be at the school level, district level, state level and within the community or city. From the school level, parents like you made the following changes:

• Instead of having social security numbers to identify children, schools now use a new randomly generated number to prevent theft and other privacy issues.
• Defibrillators are now at every high school. A defibrillator is a machine used to shock the victim's heart and restore the heart's normal rhythmic patterns. When a defibrillator is used, it in effect kicks the heart into action again, causing it to resume sending blood throughout the body. This was needed specifically due to incidents during athletic activities.
• It is now mandated that recess must not be used as punishment and all elementary students are entitled to 15 minutes of recess.
• Currently, SAF has been brought the idea of making lunch account information available online.