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Lansing Schools Education Association

Instructional Council

1. An Instructional Council is established to act as a decision-making body for recommendations to the Superintendent to improve student learning through curriculum development, instructional improvement, evaluation, and staff development for the School District. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Instructional Council shall function as:

a. an initiating agency and clearinghouse for research and innovations;

b. a recommending agency for policy change and philosophy renewal;

c. an agency for curriculum realignment to review and balance curricular emphasis;

d. a promotional agency for staff development programs;

e. a reviewing agency for accountability procedures;

f. a consulting agency for citizen's groups to:

1) bring ideas and concerns of teachers, administrators, and citizens into focus and

2) provide resource people, research, and background information on curriculum and instructional matters; and

g. an agency for reviewing federal, state, and locally funded programs, especially those affecting more than one (1) building.

2. Any curriculum change, instructional management system, or instructional program whichis intended for system-wide application shall be implemented only after review by the Instructional Council.

3. The Board and the Association shall participate when and where feasible and practical with private organizations, governmental units and agencies, or teacher groups in alternative processes to improve educational quality and student learning. Such alternatives shall be reviewed by the Instructional Council which will make recommendations to the Superintendent's staff.

4. The Instructional Council shall be composed of six (6) administrators, six (6) teachers, six (6) parents, and six (6) students from the secondary schools in the system. Each of the twenty-four (24) members shall have an equal vote in the matters before the Instructional Council. They shall be selected as follows:

a. The Superintendent of Schools shall appoint the six (6) administrative members who shall include a secondary principal and an elementary principal.

b. The LSEA President shall nominate, for ratification by the LSEA Board of Directors, six (6) teachers, such teachers to be representative of:

1) the various curriculum areas;
2) the elementary-secondary ratio;
3) minority groups;
4) groups such as helping teachers, counselors, and diagnosticians; and
5) the LSEA membership-at-large.

c. The Board shall ultimately be responsible for the designation of parent members to the Instructional Council. The six (6) parent members shall be representative of the total school population including minorities and their constituent organizations as well as parents of students with disabilities. They shall reside in separate school attendance

d. The Junior Board of Education shall appoint six (6) high school students. The student members shall be representative of the total school population including minorities. The Junior Board itself shall function as a steering committee to advise the Instructional Council on student affairs. The student members of the Instructional Council shall attend all meetings of the Council on an excused absence basis. Their terms shall be for one (1) year with reappointment permissible for a second term.

5. The Instructional Council shall be chaired alternately by the administrator co-chairperson appointed by the Superintendent and the teacher co-chairperson selected by the teacher representatives on the Council. The chairperson of the day shall retain his/her vote.

6. The Instructional Council shall meet monthly on school time (second Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.) and such other times as the Council may determine. If any member of the Council cannot attend a meeting, he/she shall provide an appropriate substitute.

7. Types of proposals which receive Council attention and recommendation include staffing proposals, research proposals, and government proposals as well as innovative curriculum changes. However, proposals for innovative programs to existing curricular areas may be initiated by teachers and principals on a building basis.

8. The administrative co-chairperson shall receive recommendations from the Instructional Council and present them to the Superintendent. The Superintendent shall act on such recommendations from the Council or shall arrange for presentation of the recommendations to the Board of Education for action.

9. The co-chairperson shall communicate to the Council the disposition of Council-approved proposals or resolutions within one (1) week after the action of the Board of Education or the Superintendent.

10. Any program approved by the Board of Education or the Superintendent shall be implemented as soon as feasible.

11. Instructional Council recommendations rejected by the Board of Education or the Superintendent shall be returned to the Council by the next meeting of the Council with the rationale for rejection. The Council shall have the authority to modify the proposals and resubmit them.