2017 - 2018 

The Henry County Board of Education, recognizing the need to promote parent and community involvement and communication with schools, thus establishes local school councils as advisory bodies. 

The Board reaffirms – as does O.C.G.A. § 20-2-85 (b) – that the management and control of the schools is the responsibility of the local board of education.  It shall be the responsibility of local school councils to provide advice and recommendations to the school principal and, where appropriate, to the Board on any matter related to student achievement and school improvement.  The Board shall approve and make available a uniform set of bylaws and code of ethics for adoption by each council.

The local school council shall be comprised of a minimum of seven members.  The school principal shall serve as a member of the council.  Others serving on the council shall be four parents/guardians of students enrolled in the school, two of whom shall be business persons, and two certificated teachers, excluding any personnel employed in administrative positions, who are employed at the school at least four of the six segments of the school day.  The parent and teacher representatives shall be elected by and from among the groups they represent.  Parent representatives shall make up a majority of the council.

In the case of a vacancy in the position of school principal, the Superintendent or designee shall seek the school council’s input as to the qualities, abilities and leadership style the new principal should possess to best meet the needs of the school.  For the purpose of this policy, a vacancy is defined as when a principal is separated from employment, resigns, retires, transfers, or is reassigned.  At the Superintendent’s discretion, the provision of school council input may not apply in situations where a principal position is filled through the Superintendent’s reassignment of existing personnel.  School principal does not include assistant principals or administrative assistants.

Council meetings shall be called and conducted in accordance with law.  All meetings and records of the council shall be open to the public.  The council shall not engage in business that would require a meeting in executive session.  The Superintendent or designee shall establish council training and administrative procedures to ensure that local school councils operate effectively and comply with all applicable legal requirements.

The provisions of this policy shall not apply to a governance council of any charter school of the Henry County School System.

Henry County Board of Education – Approved 10.10.2016

Legal Ref.:  O.C.G.A. § 20-2-85 and § 20-2-86