The School Advisory Council has responsibility in the following areas
Planning – maintaining and upholding the Council’s mission, and setting goals and implementing plans for the school.
Policy Development – formulating, reviewing and revising policies that give general direction to administrative action. Policies are approved by the Council for recommendation to the principal, for the designated pastor’s approval and promulgation.
Finance – developing and monitoring the implementation of school guidelines regarding the financial operations of the school. Examples of this would be school salary scales, budgetary practices, and general financial operations.
Advancement, Public Relations, & Marketing – establishing guidelines regarding development programs at St. Francis Central Catholic, responding to the needs and concerns expressed by the school community, and promoting the school’s educational program. The Council advocates and promotes the school within the school community and throughout the Morgantown community.
Legislative Issue Education – studying issues relevant to the school’s educational program, and developing plans and programs to educate the school community regarding legislative issues that impact the school’s educational program.
Evaluation – determining whether the Council’s goals and plans are being met, not evaluating individual staff members and administrators, and determining the Council’s own effectiveness.
The School Advisory Council has no responsibility in the following areas
Authority to Make Decisions – Individual members should not act on their own apart from the council. Members of the Advisory Council only have authority when they sit with the entire School Advisory Council at a meeting and can only act on behalf of the Advisory Council after approval.
Speaking on Behalf of the School Advisory Council – members should not be sharing confidential information with others who do not serve on the Advisory Council or speak on behalf of the Council when questioned by members of the public. Council members should listen to concerns or questions and then direct individuals to the designated spokesperson for the school or bring concerns to the Advisory Council meetings, when appropriate.
Discussing Disciplinary Issues – members should not become involved in disciplinary issues. The school principal, the designated school pastor and other members of the staff are the only ones who should be directly involved in student or staff discipline.
“Running the School” – members should avoid including specific regulations and rules in the formulation of policies. Policies need to be written to give guidance to the principal as he/she develops and enforces school rules and regulations. Members will avoid telling the principal how to do things. The School Advisory Council is not directly involved in the day-to-day operations of the school or academic decisions. Curricular goals and other learning outcomes are the responsibility of the principal and faculty. Furthermore, members do not make decisions to hire nor terminate any staff or faculty member.
The School Advisory Council is Not a Grievance Body – although concerns and questions from the school community should be discussed, members should refrain from constant complaining and focus on solutions that will promote the schools overall mission, philosophy and goals.
