Middleburg Community Charter School

School Mission Team Bylaws

Article IName of Council

The council shall be known as the Middleburg Community Charter School (MCCS) Mission Team. It is hereinafter referred to as the SMT.

Article IIPurpose

The purpose of the SMT is to set MCCS goals and academic curriculum for the school and manage activities to achieve those goals to ensure that decisions and actions made by the stakeholders of MCCS align with the school’s mission in achieving its vision.

Section 1. Mission Statement

Utilizing a Leonardo da Vinci-inspired curriculum, Middleburg Community Charter School (MCCS) inspires students to become confident, caring problem-solvers aware of their connection to family, community, country and world. With a dedicated staff and small school environment, children are provided the attention and resources to become curious and confident learners utilizing essential 21st century skills. The communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills they learn equip them to become productive global citizens.

Section 2. School Vision

Build a creative, committed community of learnersequipped to thrive in a 21st century world. Inspired by the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci, MCCS will strive to tap into students’ inherent curiosity by providing a hands-on, innovative education.

Article IIIPowers

Section 1. Policies and Procedures

The SMT has the power to create and carry out policies and procedures specific to MCCS that do not conflict or nullify the policies and procedures already set by LCPS and the MCCS Board of Directors.

Section 2. Initiatives

The SMT has the power to design, develop, execute and oversee projects and programs that align with the school’s vision.

Section 3. Charter Mandates

The MCCS Charter states that MCCS shall be administered and managed by a management committee (the School Mission Team). The SMT is composed of parents of students enrolled in the school, teachers and administrators working in the school and representatives of any community sponsors, in a manner agreed to by the Board of Directors. The SMT is part of the organizational management of MCCS in relationship to the Board of Directors as a 501 © 3 organization, the Principal is an employee of the MCCS Board of Directors, and operates in accordance with regulation and practices regarding the function and responsibilities of a management committee as required by the Virginia Charter School Law, Section 22.1-212.6(B). Pursuant to the charter contract and as specified in Section22.1-212.7, MCCS shall be subject to the requirements of the Standards of Quality, including the Standards of Learning and the Standards of Accreditation. It is the MCCS Board’s intent to have the SMT led (Chair) by a full time educator at MCCS (however they are not required to do so) full time educator vice the school Principal or Administrator to emphasize MCCS’ focus on education and curriculum. The By-Laws shall provide that the Principal or Administrator can serve as Chair, but it is not required. However, the Principal or Administrator will be a key contributor to the SMT.

The SMT is also charged with general oversight that the MCCS curriculum meets or exceeds all state requirements set forth in the Standards of Quality, including the Standards of Learning and the Standards of Accreditation.

Article IVComposition of the SMT

Section 1. Representatives

A.Represented Parties: The members of the SMT will be composed of representatives from the following groups –

  1. School Administration
  2. School Staff
  3. Students
  4. Board of Directors
  5. Parent Teacher Organization
  6. Parents representative (with a student currently attending MCCS)
  7. Middleburg Community

B.Representative Responsibilities: To represent a group of stakeholders while making decisions and pursuing projects aligned with the school mission.

C.Nominations for SMT members shall be received prior tothe June meeting and will be reviewed by the SMT members not standing for reappointment.

D.Representatives shall be voted into the SMT by sitting members of the SMT by majority vote during the June SMT meeting.

E.Term

F.SMT members will serve for two school years and can be eligible for re-election at the end of the second year of their term. Terms shall be ideally be staggered to ensure that turn-over is properly managed and continuity maintainedIf a representative finds that he/she cannot fulfill his/herobligations, the member will submit a letter of resignation to the Chair who will present it at the next SMT meeting. Attendance and participation in the SMT is necessary, therefore if a member is routinely in-absentia and not engaged they may be asked to step down with a 2/3 vote. [SL1]

Section 2. SMT Officers

A.Roles

  1. Chair
  2. Creates the SMT meeting agenda with the principal (if the principal is not the current Chair).
  3. Forwards the agenda to the SMT members including the academic advisor
  4. Presides over the SMT meetings
  5. Ensures the SMT acts in accordance with the charter agreement
  6. Ensure the initiatives of the SMT are aligned with the mission and vision of MCCS
  7. Vice Chair
  8. Serves in the absence of the Chair at SMT meetings
  9. Notifies SMT members three calendar days before a meeting to send agenda requests (via email)
  10. Recorder
  11. Takes minutes at each meeting
  12. Distributes the minutes to the members of the SMT within three calendar days of the meeting
  13. Distributes the minutes to the public (via school website) within one calendar week of the SMT meeting

B.Election

  1. SMT Officers will be elected at the June SMT meeting. Officers need to be nominated and then the SMT committee will vote (majority vote required).

C.Term

D.Officers will serve for one two school years and can be eligible for re-election at the end of their terms school year.

i. Maximum 3-year term

D.E.Resignation and Removal:

  1. If an officer finds that he/she cannot fulfill his/herobligations, the member will submit a letter of resignation to the Chair or Vice Chair who will present it at the next SMT meeting for acceptance.After an appropriate notification period to solicit potential candidates, an election will take place to replace the officer at or by the next SMT meeting.
  2. If an officer consistently demonstrates that they are unable to fulfill their duties, the SMT will discuss removal at the next monthly meeting to consider removing the officer. A 2/3 vote can then remove that officer. If the officer is removed by a 2/3 vote, an election will follow to replace the officer at or by the next SMT meeting.

Section 3. Committee Chairpersons

A.Chairperson Responsibilities: To carry out assignments and forward initiatives deemed necessary by the SMT and to communicate areas of improvement identified by their community.

B.Election, Resignation and Removal:

  1. Members of the SMT may volunteer to be a committee chairperson.
  2. If a chairperson finds that he/she cannot fulfill these obligations, the member will submit a letter of resignation to the Chair who will present it at the next SMT meeting.
  3. If a chairperson is not fulfilling their obligations, the SMT Chair will meet with the subcommittee chairperson to provide guidance or corrective measures. The committee may, with a 2/3 vote, remove a chairperson from a committee.

C.Standing Committees: Permanent committees necessary for the SMT to function

  1. Curriculum and Academics
  2. School Culture
  3. Communications
  4. Logistics
  5. Finance
  6. Executive Committee: The SMT will have an executive committee composed of the principal, SMT Chair, and the Chair of the Board of Directors to expedite decisions in-between SMT meetings. Should the principal also serve as SMT Chair, the SMT Vice Chair shall serve on the executive committee as the third member.

Article VSMT Governance

Section 1. Meetings

  1. Attendance: The SMT Officials, Representatives, and Standing Committee Chairpersons will attend regular meetings of the SMT. More than half of the SMT members must be in attendance to initiate a meeting. All members have a right to be heard, treated with respect, and have the full attention of all present.
  2. Protocol: The meeting protocol will follow Robert’s Rules of Order, beginning with approval or amendment of the agenda.
  3. Voting: The SMT can only hold votes if there is a quorum of at least 60% of the voting members present.
  4. Time: The SMT will meet at 3:30 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month at the school. To the best of his/her ability, the SMT Chair will conclude the meeting no later than 90 minutes after initiation. The Vice Chair will notify members three days before a meeting to send agenda requests.
  5. Continued discussion: Matters planned for discussion may be tabled to a future meeting by a 2/3 vote.
  6. Minutes: Minutes will be taken by the Recorder and distributed to the SMT within three days of the meeting. Members will read and approve minutes in writing within three days of receiving the minutes. The Recorder will then post the minutes for the public within a week of the respective SMT meeting.
  7. Parents are welcome to attend all SMT meetings with prior notice such that proper space for the meeting can be arranged. SMT meetings are open to parents and stakeholders.
  8. Members of the SMT will conduct themselves in a professional manner and may be asked to sign personal non-disclosure agreements (privacy agreements) in order to obtain access to certain MCCS data.

Section 2. Committees

  1. Standing Committees: The SMT will utilize standing committees to perform the duties of the SMT. Members may volunteer to serve on a committee, as well non-member staff, parents, and other community members. It is left to the discretion of the committee chairperson to decide as to the size of their respective committee.
  2. Ad-Hoc Committees: The SMT may create ad-hoc committees deemed necessary to pursue initiatives identified by the SMT.

Article VIAmendments to the Bylaws

The Bylaws must be amended to conform to newly passed legislation or existing laws and regulations when needed. In other cases, any member may propose an amendment or amended version of the bylaws. The amendments or amended version will be accepted by a 2/3 vote of all SMT members. The Recorder will inform all stakeholders of any amendment or change to the bylaws as part of the minutes of the meeting and/or by special notice.

Amendment 1 (Passed November 25, 2014 Management Team Meeting)

All budget items which involve an expenditure in excess of $1,000 require pre-approval of Middleburg Community Charter School, School Mission Team in order to be executed.

[SL1]This is redundant, see section 2.D.ii