Montgomery Independent School District

The Montgomery Independent School District Site Based Decision Making Plan is consistent with the requirements of Senate Bill 1 and Montgomery Independent School District (MISD) Policy BQA (local).  This plan underscores the importance of site-based campus committees, administrators, principals and the superintendent cooperating in a decision making process which recognizes and values input from community members, parents, business and professional educators.

Under this plan, an advisory structure to provide a vehicle for gaining input from an array of constituencies is:

• A standing district advisory committee
• A standing campus level advisory committee at each campus
• Special purpose ad hoc advisory committees as needed

In order to promote wide -ranging input, the Superintendent and Board of Trustees also seek recommendations from other constituent groups including special programs staff, parents, and community and business representatives. 

Membership

The Superintendent has appointed the Executive Director of Communications to serve as the District Advisory Committee Chairman. The chairperson ensures that there is an annual election of campus representatives and, in consultation with the Superintendent, appoints community and business representatives; provides for annual training of the District Advisory Committee; schedules and advertises meeting dates, times, locations and agendas; insures broad-based community, parent, and staff input. Ad hoc committees composed of DAC members and other selected individuals may be appointed by the committee chair to develop recommendations to bring to the full DAC committee.

Policy BQA (local) establishes that the District Advisory Committee is to consist of professional teaching and non-teaching staff, parents, community, and business members:

• Two teacher members elected by the faculty at large at each campus.
• One professional non-teaching staff member elected by the faculty at large at each campus
• Two parents (non-employee)
  • One representing K-6 and standing in a parental relationship to a child at that level
  • The other representing 7-12 standing in a parental relationship to a child at that level
• One employee from the following departments:

  Child Nutrition,

  Maintenance/Transportation,

  Special Education,

  Technology

• Two community members (non-employee, required to live in the district)
• Two business representatives (not required to also live in the district)
• Two district-level administrators (one as Chair) appointed by the superintendent.

In addition, other district administrators may serve as advisors to the committee as appropriate to the issue under consideration.

Meeting Schedule

This committee is to meet at scheduled meetings at least four times annually.  Called meetings for specific purposes are scheduled on an as needed basis. 

Documentation

Prior to each regularly scheduled DAC meeting, members will receive an agenda so that they can solicit input on the topics to be considered.  Minutes of each meeting will be distributed to DAC members and will also be kept on file and posted online.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. District Improvement Plan Effectiveness: The DAC shall annually review the District Improvement Plan results using TAPR results and other sources of relevant information on student performance. The committee may offer recommendations concerning all students' performance or the performance of special populations.  These recommendations may extend to consideration of resources available, staffing patterns.
2. District Calendar: DAC will provide input and recommend an annual district wide calendar that designates all whole-day staff development times.
3. Other District Initiatives and Projects: DAC will provide input and feedback on district projects and initiatives brought forward by district administration.

DAC responsibilities do not include the following:

• Prohibit the Board from conducting meetings with teachers or groups of teachers other than the District Advisory Committee meetings
• Prohibit the Board from establishing policies providing avenues for input from others in district or campus-level planning decision-making.
• Limit or affect the power of the Board to govern the public schools in Montgomery ISD
• Create a new cause of action or require collective bargaining.