Orca K-8 Decision-Making

Orca K-8 Decision-Making Structure

The Orca Leadership Council was created by merging the PTSA Board and the school Leadership Team. The Leadership Council consists of at least 5 staff members (including the principal), 7 parents, the First Base Director, and student representatives (student representatives are selected by middle school Student Council). The Leadership Council meets once a month on Mondays, every other month at 3:30 – 5:00 pm, every other month at 7 – 8:30 pm. Meetings are open to the community, but only members of the Leadership Council will have a “vote.”

The Leadership Council has several core purposes, including:

• Keepers of the vision
• Keepers of the school transformation plan
• Decision-making filter, guide, and facilitator
• Communication hub
• Establishing overall school policies

The Leadership Council may have standing subcommittees to address ongoing issues, or it may appoint Task Forces to research specific ideas and/or come up with proposals. These groups may include people not on the Leadership Council.

A staff leadership team will be a subcomponent of the Leadership Council. The staff leadership team meets once a month to plan staff professional development.

Parent members of the Leadership Council are elected PTSA officers: President, Secretary, and Treasurer, plus three Vice Presidents representing a Pod/grade band (K-2, 3-5, 6-8), and the Vice President representing the entire K-8 and Team A. The PTSA Board meets additionally to address PTSA issues. The PTSA holds General Meetings where the larger parent body can share information, raise issues, and participate in discussions.

A Student Council provides a forum for students to raise and discuss issues. The Student Council selects student representatives to Leadership Council.

A vital goal of the Leadership Council is to increase family-teacher-student dialogue in Orca decision-making. The Leadership Council aims for consensus, while incorporating family, staff, and student input. When unable to achieve consensus, decision-making reverts to Seattle Education Association contractual guidelines. It is important to recognize that the Leadership Council is an effort to increase family participation in decision-making, rather than override staff contractual authority.