Columbia Secondary School School Governance

1. Columbia Secondary SchoolSchool Governance draft by A. Stillman, Associate Director for Technology, Information Systems, Payroll, Carpentry, and Cooking

2. Lower School Council • Rationale: CSS seeks to prepare students to become active, informed members of our democratic society. Additionally, CSS believes that students have a unique perspective that is valuable in the formulation of sound school policies. By engaging young people in meaningful school decision-making with adult stakeholders, CSS hopes to lead students to recognize the complex realities of advocacy, diplomacy, and compromise that are essential to life-long civic participation.

3. All Lower School Council Composition 3 students (elected from Student Council) 3 faculty members Principal (or appointee) PA president AD for fundraising, parent, and community relations custodian school secretary CUAC member * n represents the number of grade levels at the school

4. Student Congress Composition (6 x n) students (elected from Halls) 1 faculty advisor

5. Jurisdiction of Student Council • Jurisdiction of the LSC is all non-curricular, non-discipline related school policy. Examples: • Chartering and management of student clubs • Hearing of student, teacher, and parent petitions • Management of fairness committee • Planning of all-school assemblies and initiatives • Planning of school-improvement projects

6. Meeting schedule • The Student Congress meets twice a week in “Leadership” Elective in fall semester (or after school…TBD). Meets after school in spring semester. • The School Council meets on Tuesday after school each week.

7. Leadership structures • Student Council • One representative per hall (6 x n) • One faculty advisor • One administrative • Three representatives elected by SC to the LSC • Agenda Setting • Faculty advisor meets weekly with President, Vice President, Principal • Principal has veto power. 2/3 majority overrides.

8. Columbia Secondary SchoolCode of Conductand Ladder of Referral draft by C. Cota, JM. Dominguez, A. Stillman

9. Draft CSS code of conduct Being truthful. • No plagiarism (define elsewhere). • Maintain silence and eyes on your own paper during tests and quizzes. • Question what you do not understand. Speaking. • One person speaks at a time, unless defined by a different protocol. • Use a speaking tone of voice that ensures your audience can hear you. • Profanity, physical threats, or any language that demeans others on the basis of age, religion, ethnicity, citizenship, physical appearance, race, gender, or sexual orientation is not acceptable. Listening. • All eyes on the speaker. • When a teacher raises their hand with shaking Maraca, all talking and activity stops, eyes on the teacher. Check your neighbor.

10. Draft CSS code of conduct Working. • Writing materials are out on your desk when the period begins. • Stay on task. • Do your share of group work. • Pass the ball. Allow others their chance to participate. • Respect due dates. • Stay organized. • Use a calendar / planner / agenda. Style. • Proper uniform. • Tuck dress shirts. • No hats, gum chewing, rude noises, or spitting.

11. Draft CSS code of conduct Respecting property. • Do not draw on walls, desks, or otherwise intentionally damage community property. • Do not touch other people’s possessions without permission. • Return lost items to the lost and found in the main office. Using tools properly. • During the school day, computers may be used for academic work only. Games, non-educational videos, music, shopping or other recreational web browsing is not permitted. • Personal computer use during class time must be approved by the teacher. • Student cell phones must be phones only (no cameras, media players, web-phones, etc) and can be used on the way to and from school, but must be labeled and stored in the main office during the school day. • Personal music players and gaming systems may not be used in school or transported to/from school. Eating and Drinking. • Stay hydrated. Only water is allowed in classrooms. Clean and reuse your bottles. • Eat only in designated areas and at breakfast, fruitfest, and lunch. • Clean up after yourself and others.

12. Questionable behavior Ladder of Referral flowchart Immediate physical threat? Advisor school safety or administrator Principal’s Conference yes Student initiated issue no Highly likely to escalate to physical/emotional harm? Written Behavior Contract (as needed) Conflict Mediation yes no Signs of emotional or mental health issue? Signs of learning disability? yes Advisor and Principal Ed/Psych Evaluation Written Behavior contract Fairness and justice committee hearing Principal’s conference no Informal verbal intervention Formal verbal warning.

13. Ladder of classroom discipline “Please stop your side conversation.” Informal verbal intervention “If you do not stop your side conversation I will separate you from the group.” Formal verbal Warning and think sheet Written behavior contract “Please come into the hallway.” Fairness committee hearing “This is a Formal Warning. If X happens again, you will need to go on a Behavior Contract. Please fill out this Think Sheet.” Principal’s conference

14. Behavior contract • Student comes during lunch or after school to draft contract with teacher. • CC’d to advisor Teacher’s description of incidents leading to this contract: Steps to be taken by the student: Steps to be taken by the teacher: Next review on:_______________ By:______________________ _____ I recommend termination of contract. _____ I recommend continuation of contract. (ammendments? (Y/N)______ (see attached)) _____ I recommend referral to fairness committee. Signatures: X_______________________ X________________________

15. Fairness and Justice Committee Rationale: The CSS community seeks to form citizens committed to ethical action and capable of careful moral reasoning. In the interest of this goal, we must engage students and teachers together in the maintenance of community norms and the administration of justice. The fairness and justice committee provides a means to reform and renew damaged relationships, reinforce school norms, and restore justice through facilitated conversation, school service, and other appropriate consequences.

16. Fairness and Justice Committee • Panel composition: • 2 students selected on case by case basis from a body of 10 trained students. Students are nominated to fairness committee by peers in halls. • 1 or 2 staff members (selected based on free period) • 1 teacher facilitator • Coordinator delegates / schedules. (Andrew)

17. Fairness Committee Hearing Protocols • Faculty facilitator is the point person for screening potential fairness cases, organizing hearings. (see jurisdiction slide) • Norms for conducting the hearing: • Confidentiality must be assured • Party A explains his/her side of the story. • Panel asks clarifying questions, Party A responds. • Party B explains his/her side of the story and has an opportunity to respond to Party A. • Panel asks clarifying questions, Party B has opportunity to respond. • Panel members have an opportunity to respond to the case and offer recommendations for consequences. • Facilitator summarizes the committee’s judgments and asks for the commitment of all present to a proposed solution. • Final suggestions are incorporated. • Two parties shake hands, hug, and break down in tears.