PARENT AND COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCILS, COMMITTEES, AND ORGANIZATIONS

The Board of Education considers input from and communication with parents, staff, and community stakeholders to be essential to the educational mission of the school district. To this end, the Board encourages the formation of advisory committees that include involvement from parents and community stakeholders to gather input, share information, promote the work of schools and teachers and the well-being and education of students, and facilitate partnerships with parents, businesses, and the community. To the extent possible, committees should be organized to maximize effectiveness and administrative efficiency and minimize duplication of effort by participants.

A. Advisory School Councils

Each public school within the district shall establish a school council, as defined in NMSA 1978, § 22-5-16, to assist the principal in an advisory capacity with school- based decision-making and to provide parents with the opportunity for greater involvement in their children’s education.

1. Each advisory school council shall include at least seven members representing an equitable balance among school employees, parents, and community members. If such person is available, at least one community member shall represent the business community. The principal shall be an active member on the council and may serve as the chair.

a. Qualifications for membership:

 i. School employee members must be currently employed by the Rio Rancho Public Schools at the school on whose council they serve.

ii. Parent members must have a student currently enrolled at the school on whose council they serve.

iii. Community members must reside in Rio Rancho or must have a student enrolled in a school operated by Rio Rancho Public Schools.

2. The membership of advisory school councils is determined through an elective process conducted by each school under the supervision of the Superintendent or designee. In the event the number of candidates who declare an interest in serving is insufficient to create a council of at least seven members, the principal may fill remaining positions by appointment.

3. Meetings shall be determined by each school council or as called by the principal. Advisory school councils should meet a minimum of four times per year. Meetings of advisory councils are not required to be conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act, NMSA 1978, § 10-15-1 et seq.

4. Each school council shall function in an advisory capacity to the principal in accordance with NMSA 1978, § 22-5-16 and may perform other duties and responsibilities as designated by the principal. The advisory school council shall:

 a. Work with the school principal and give advice, consistent with state and school district rules and policies, on policies relating to instructional issues and curricula and on the public school’s proposed and actual budgets;

b. Develop creative ways to involve parents in the schools;

c. Where appropriate, coordinate with any existing workforce development boards or vocational education advisory councils to connect students and school academic programs to business resources and opportunities; and

d. Serve as the champion for students in building community support for schools and encouraging greater community participation in the public schools.

 5. Members of advisory councils are not entitled to any benefits or other reimbursement for services rendered as council members.

B. Superintendent’s Advisory Councils

The Superintendent and district-level officials may establish district-level parent, staff, and community advisory councils to provide input and share information with schools and with the Board of Education. These councils may interface with advisory school councils and school-level organizations to facilitate communication with parents and school staff.

 C. Parent, Teacher, Student Organizations (PTA, PTO, PTSO)

The Board of Education encourages and supports the formation of organizations of parents and teachers at individual schools, with student membership also encouraged at the secondary level. While recognizing that state and national affiliation enables these organizations to extend their influence at the state and federal levels, the Board's primary concern is the creation of effective mechanisms to promote and enhance communication and cooperation between schools and families.

Should the school principal perceive that any such group is becoming a negative influence on the school, the principal may, with the concurrence of the Superintendent, withhold the privilege of the group meeting at the school or using school facilities, equipment or personnel for its purposes.

D. Booster Clubs and Organizations

Parents and others who wish to support school programs are encouraged to participate in the various booster clubs and other parent organizations that play such an important role in supporting, encouraging and advancing school programs. The term “Booster Club” refers to all volunteer parent organizations that operate to support school programs inthe district other than Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs). Booster clubs shall be expected to adhere to all state and federal laws and regulations, Board of Education policies, and administrative procedural directives. Policy 619 contains further directives regarding the administration and operation of booster clubs.

LEGAL REF:
NMSA 22-5-16

Rio Rancho Public Schools
Adopted: June 18, 2018
Effective Date: July 1, 2018
Revised: Feb 24, 2020