**BAA-E - EVALUATING THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE** **Last Updated Date:** 11/26/2013 **Adoption Date:** 01/10/2006 You will do your own testing and scoring. Each question should be answered with one of three words  - yes, some, or no. If the majority of your answers in "yes", you and your Committee are doing a good job as public servants. If the majority of your answers is "some", there is room for improvement. A "no" majority indicates the need for considerable improvement. ROUTINE FUNCTIONING  The School Committee, in order to be successful, must have its routine responsibilities organized so as to reserve the majority of its time, energy, and thinking for the important matters of school and study and educational development. THE COMMITTEE  1. Does the Committee have a preplanned meeting agenda? 2. Are copies of the agenda distributed to Committee members several days before the meeting? 3. Are the meetings businesslike and kept on the subject? 4. Does the Committee operate under approved parliamentary procedures? 5. Does the Committee record and preserve regular minutes? 6. Does the Committee meet in a comfortable and well‑lit room with appropriate furnishings? 7. Are the Committee meetings held regularly with a good attendance of members? 8. Do Committee meetings begin promptly at the announced time of meeting? 9. Does the Committee have access to reliable sources of information? THE MEMBER  10. Do you familiarize yourself with the agenda prior to Committee meetings? 11. Do you reserve all decisions on matters until the Committee is in session? 12. Are you familiar with approved parliamentary procedure? 13. Do you attend Committee meetings regularly? 14. Do you understand fully the routine responsibilities and duties of Committee officers? 15. Do you carry out your routine assignments properly? 16. Do you arrive at Committee meetings promptly? 17. Do you endeavor to keep informed on current educational matters? TOTAL SCORE ‑‑ ROUTINE FUNCTIONING SCHOOL COMMITTEE IMPROVEMENT  The School Committee recognizes that the best School Committees make a constant effort to improve their internal operation and effectiveness in school advancement. Programs in self‑study, school study and in increasing Committee effectiveness should be continually in effect. THE COMMITTEE  1. Does the majority of the Committee attend the annual Massachusetts Association of School Committees state meeting and other meetings designated to keep the Committee advised of developments affecting the internal district operation? 2. Does the Committee conduct self-studies of its methods of procedure and action? 3. Does the Committee visit the schools within the system? 4. Does the Committee have and use a School Committee library (or bookshelf)? 5. Does the Committee visit schools within other systems? 6. Does the Committee participate in community school study efforts? THE MEMBER  7. Do you familiarize yourself with public school laws? 8. Have you attended Association study‑work meetings this year? 9. Do you subscribe to and read publications relating to educational and School Committee activities? 10. Do you visit schools within your system? TOTAL SCORE ‑‑ SCHOOL COMMITTEE IMPROVEMENT COMMUNITY RELATIONS  Since the most effective school committees are those with strong public support, the School Committee will, in order to gain this support, keep the community informed as to the kind of program it has and what needs to be done to improve it. THE COMMITTEE  1. Are arrangements made for regular newspaper and other press coverage of Committee meetings, studies and other activities? 2. Does the Committee issue periodic reports to the people? 3. Are Committee policies printed and made available to the public? 4. Has the Committee sponsored community meetings on education? 5. Is the Committee receptive to offers of help and to suggestions from citizens? 6. Does the Committee use the help of community organizations and citizens' committees in meeting school problems? THE MEMBER  7. Do you participate in the civic life of your community? 8. Do you take every opportunity in talks, written articles and personal contacts to tell the people about the schools? 9. Are you aware of the pressure, personal and otherwise, exerted on the Committee and the individual member? 10. Are you informed of community feelings toward the school? 11. Do you have confidence in a correctly informed public's interest in the schools? TOTAL SCORE ‑‑ COMMUNITY RELATIONS IMPROVING INSTRUCTION  The School Committee feels a responsibility for providing the conditions necessary for the improvement of instruction in the schools. Little improvement will occur where there is an inadequate plant and equipment and no budgetary provisions are made for "on-the job" and other types of teacher training. THE COMMITTEE  1. Has the per capita financial allotment for instructional material been increased in the past five years? 2. Are adequate libraries available to all children? 3. Are funds available to finance an in-service (on-the-job) training program? 4. Does the Committee encourage further teacher study with financial and other incentives? THE MEMBER  5. Do you keep abreast of developments in school architecture? 6. Have you familiarized yourself with school equipment needs? 7. Are you acquainted with industrial personnel practices? 8. Are you acquainted with all of the features of a well-rounded school program? TOTAL SCORE ‑‑ IMPROVING INSTRUCTION  EDUCATIONAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT  One of the most important functions of the School Committee is policy development. This records the objectives, procedures and philosophy of the School Committee. THE COMMITTEE  1. Is your Committee policy so written as to be understandable and so organized as to be usable? 2. Does the policy define the roles of the Committee, the superintendent, principals and teachers, and clarify their responsibilities and relationships to one another? 3. Is the policy so effective that routine problems are covered by it? 4. Does the Committee allow the superintendent to implement policy and confine itself to policy making? 5. Does the policy include the Committee's philosophy of education? 6. Does the policy include relations with the non‑professional staff? 7. Does the policy include the Committee's objectives? 8. Does the policy cover public use of buildings and properties? 9. Does the policy govern the internal procedures of the Committee? 10. Does the policy include procedures for receiving delegations? 11. Is the majority of policy development devoted to educational matters? 12. Does the Committee consider community wishes and suggestions in policy development? 13. Does the Committee seek the professional advice of the superintendent in policy formulation? 14. Are you familiar with all your Committee policy? THE MEMBER  15. Do you make every effort to carry on Committee functions in accordance with the approved Committee policy? 16. Do you attempt to keep up with changing conditions in order to modify policy to meet these new conditions? 17. Do you respect the office of superintendent and refrain from unwarranted interference in administrative affairs? 18. Are you aware of the fact that you have no authority as a Committee member except when the Committee is legally in session? 19. Are you aware of the fact that consistent Committee policy inspires confidence among personnel and the public? TOTAL SCORE—EDUCATIONAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT EDUCATIONAL PLANNING  The School Committee believes that future educational crises can be averted by planning in advance. Information such as birth statistics, community growth trends, and other indices of change must be updated and tailored to the demands and the needs of the future. THE COMMITTEE  1. Has the Committee compiled and studied figures giving the probable enrollment in each grade in the coming years? 2. Has the Committee, on the basis of this probable enrollment, begun planning for additional school plant space? 3. Have adequate school sites been obtained in community growth areas for future school buildings? 4. Is the Committee making plans now for equipment purchases for new school plants? 5. Is the Committee planning now to attract the best teachers to its system for its future needs? 6. Is the Committee studying the financial base of the public schools to determine future financial needs and resources? 7. Have the community interest groups been consulted regarding increasing the offerings of the school program? 8. Have community interest groups been consulted regarding the type of school program to be offered in the future? 9. Is the Committee planning ahead in other ways? THE MEMBER  10. Do you keep apprised of national population, industrial and social trends, and their effects on the public school system? 11. Do you participate actively in the gatherings and study of information regarding the schools' future needs? 12. Do you realize that changing conditions result in changing school needs? 13. Are you aware of the fact that long‑range plans have to be constantly examined and altered in accordance with shifting trends? 14. Do you realize that modernization is as necessary as are increases and expansion? TOTAL SCORE ‑‑ EDUCATIONAL PLAN  EVALUATION  The School Committee recognizes that it should be continually informed as to the effectiveness of their school system in the education of its children. On the basis of the evaluative information, steps can be taken to better the school system.  1. Does the Committee receive periodic reports regarding the success of the school system in reaching its objectives? 2. Have studies been made to show the college success of your students? 3. Have studies been made to show the success of your non-college student graduates? 4. Has an outside education agency surveyed the public school system in recent years? 5. Does the Committee take action to improve the schools on the basis of needs revealed by evaluative studies? 6. Do you base your opinion as to the effectiveness of the public schools on complete and factual information rather than on hearsay? 7. Do you understand that evaluation should lead to improvement rather than criticism? 8. Do you rely upon your superintendent to provide the Committee with accurate information as to the school system's effectiveness? 9. Are you acquainted with the various instruments and methods of evaluating the schools? 10. Are you acquainted with the characteristics of a good school system? TOTAL SCORE ‑‑ EVALUATION