As
a community-based school, our intention is to build
a network of strong collaborative partnerships with
students, families, teachers, administration, the Board
of Directors and the greater community. We envision
a school community that inspires our students to achieve
their full academic and creative potential, our professional
staff to the highest standards of excellence, innovation
and continuing growth and our parent community to be
active and involved. We value regular and clear communication,
inclusiveness, integrity, collaborative leadership,
and checks and balances. All parents/guardians, school
staff and Board members are voting members of the Desert
Star Community School Non-Profit Corporation. The primary
role of the school membership is to elect the Board
of Directors, encouraging full participation and ownership
in the school.
Organizational Flow Chart:
Roles and Responsibilities
Board
of Directors
The role of the Board of Directors is to provide policy,
financial and legal direction and oversight and to ensure
the long-term financial viability of the Desert Star
Community School. Financial responsibilities of the
Board will include activities such as the approval and
monitoring of the annual budget, the stewardship of
the school’s assets, the fostering of fund-raising
through solicitation of donations and grants, and long
term planning regarding school facilities. The Board
will adopt a policies and procedures manual and will
continue to add to and refine this manual with input
from the Administration and Faculty. The Board is composed
of elected representatives from the parent community,
the Faculty and the greater community to ensure that
all school stakeholders will be represented. The School
Administrator will participate as a non-voting member.
Administrator
The Administrator provides leadership and oversees the
day-to-day operations of the school. The Administrator
is responsible for the supervision and training of teachers
and oversees the program of instruction. He or she takes
a collaborative, consensus-building approach to leadership,
establishing effective working relationships and strong
lines of communication. When the Administrator is out
of the building the Faculty Chairperson shall be the
responsible party within the school.
Administrative
Committee
The Administrative Committee provides a means for on-going
collaboration and
communication between Faculty and Administration. The
Committee consists of
two individuals initially: the School Administrator
and the Faculty Chairperson.
As the school grows or when the Committee determines
it is needed, an additional
member will be added for the ideal composition of three.
The Administrator and
the Administrative Committee work together in developing
pedagogy, curriculum,
and classroom policies, as well as the training and
mentoring of teachers.
Faculty
Council
The Faculty Council consists of kindergarten, class
teachers, specialty teachers, the Faculty Chairperson
and Administrator. The Faculty Council meets weekly
to address pedagogical issues, provide mentoring, study
individual children, create integrated thematic curriculum,
plan school-wide festivals and events, and to ensure
continuing education, research and training for the
teachers.
Parent
Council
The Parent Council’s mission is to build a strong
community for families and to inspire volunteerism and
active involvement through regular meetings and ongoing
fundraising and committee work. Parent Council meetings
provide a means for parents to be informed on school
issues, to offer their input and ideas as well as to
raise concerns and parent initiatives. The Parent Council
includes all parents and guardians of children who attend
Desert Star Community School.
The Parent Council steering committee consists of 1
- 2 elected parent representatives from each grade.
At the beginning of each school year the parents from
each class meet and elect their representatives. This
group of representatives will organize meetings and
elect a chairperson.
The
Parent Council will also organize various committees
to serve the school in areas such as assistance with
fundraising campaigns, volunteer coordination, hospitality,
facility development/maintenance, teacher and office
support, and any other area of need. The Parent Council
supports and organizes families in fulfilling volunteer
time commitments in conjunction with the school’s
parent participation agreement program.
School
Organization 