Vaughan E. Overman, Principal ~ Damon Officer, Assistant Principal
809 Reid School Road ~ Taylors, SC 29687     Phone: 864-355-7450 ~ Fax: 864-355-7477
 

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Parents

PTA President: Robin Broumas
Email: nickandrobin@bellsouth.net

Membership Information      
Calendar of Events

S. Gerard, PTA Support Specialist, 355-3172
South Carolina PTA   1826 Henderson Street,  Columbia, SC 29201,  (800) 743-3782
National PTA    541 Fairbanks Ct., Ste. 1300, Chicago, IL 60611-3396 ,  (800) 307-4782

Volunteers of the Month

September 2008:
Stephanie Bass

October 2008:
Sandra Dill

Click here for a PowerPoint
about volunteer opportunities.

Parents are encouraged to be active members of  PTA!  In months when meetings take place, according to each PTA unit's bylaws, the schedule is as follows: Elementary - 2nd Monday night,  Middle - 3rd Monday night, and  High - 4th Monday night.

PTA
Mission

• To support and speak on behalf of children and youth in the schools,in the community and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children

• To assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children

• To encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools of this nation

PTA
Purpose 

• To promote the welfare of the children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship

• To raise the standards of home life

• To secure adequate laws for care & protection of children & youth

• To bring into closer relation the home & school, that parents & teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth

• To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education

What is SIC?

School Improvement Council

What do SICs do?

• SIC serves as an advisory committee to a school’s principal and faculty.

• Councils are mandated by law to exist in every public school in South Carolina.

• SICs play a key role in the education of our state’s children, bringing together parents, educators and community stakeholders to collaborate on the improvement of our local school.

• Anyone who wants to see Taylors Elementary reach its fullest potential is qualified to serve on our SIC!

Stacy Behnke, SIC Chair
stacybehnke@bellsouth.net

Our SIC meets during the school year.  Meetings are open to the public.  Members serve two-year terms and include staff members, parents, grandparents, and local community and business partners. SIC works collaboratively with the school to develop and implement a school strategic plan.  SIC monitors and evaluates our success in reaching goals, and writes an annual report to parents about the progress of the plan. SIC assists the principal in writing the narrative for the School Report Card.   SIC advises on the use of school incentive awards and provides assistance as requested by the  principal.

Taylors Elementary School Improvement Council (SIC) Bylaws

Article I  Name

The name of this school council shall be the Taylors Elementary School Improvement Council. 

Article II  Preamble and Purpose

The intent of these bylaws and guidelines is to bring the Taylors community and school closer together in a spirit of cooperation to solve difficult education problems, improve academic achievement, provide support for teachers and administrators, and bring parents into the school-based decision-making process. The School Improvement Council shall be reflective of the school community.   The Taylors Elementary School Improvement Council shall provide advice, recommendations, and assistance, and represent the community of parents, teachers, and businesses.  Each member of the School Council shall be accorded the respect and attention deserving of such a position.  

The Council will:  

·        Contribute to the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of the five year comprehensive school improvement plan;  

·        Contribute to the preparation of yearly plan updates;  

·        Assist with the development of school improvement and innovation; 

·        Develop an annual school report to the parents and constituents of the school by November fifteenth of each year to provide information on the school's progress in
  meeting the school and district goals and objectives; 

·      Coordinate efforts among the school, school organizations, the community, area businesses and the local school board; 

·       Provide additional assistance that the principal may request as well as carrying out any other duties identified by the school board of Greenville County Schools. 

The council does not have any of the duties and powers reserved by law or regulation to the local school board. 

All members of the School Improvement Council are accountable to the constituents they serve and shall: 

1.      Maintain a school-wide perspective on issues;

2.      Regularly participate in school council meetings;

3.      Participate in information and training programs-

4.      Act as a link between the school council, the community, and the constituents they serve;

5.      Encourage the participation of parents, teachers, and others within the school community; and

6.      Work to improve student achievement and performance.

Article III  Representation and Membership

Membership on the School Improvement Council is open to teachers, parents, and business representatives and shall include the principal of Taylors Elementary School.  Members of the School Improvement Council shall be 18 years of age or older.

The Taylors Elementary School Improvement Council will be composed of a balanced membership comprised of:

·        Three to five parents of students in the school elected by the parents of the students enrolled in the school  

·        Three to five teachers from the school elected by the faculty  

·        Three to five representatives appointed by the principal. The appointments should include one business partner and other persons from the school and community to balance the council membership 

·        Ex-officio members to include the principal, assistant principal, instructional coach,  the president of the PTA (Parent Teacher Association), and the immediate past chairperson of the School Improvement Council. 

Each member will have one vote and absentee ballots or proxy voting will not be permitted.  Ex officio officers do not have voting power.

Article IV  Election and Appointment Procedures

Elections will be held no later than the end of May of each year and council members will assume their responsibilities the following school year. Appointments will be made with-in 14 days of the elections.  A letter of commitment will be signed at that time.  Voting will be conducted at a general meeting session of parents held in May. Teacher representatives to the council will be elected by the faculty during a faculty meeting in September..  Members of the school council shall not receive remuneration to serve on the school council or its committees. 

Article V  Tenure  

All elected and appointed members of the council will serve two year terms with no limit set on the number of terms a member may serve.  The council may establish committees made up of teachers, parents, business leaders, and other citizens to study specific issues and make recommendations to the council. These committees will not be permanent and will have no responsibilities beyond those outlined by the council when established. 

Membership on the School Improvement Council will terminate when members:
-No longer have a student enrolled in the school or no longer live in the school attendance zone; 
-No longer hold a teaching position at the school;
-Have missed three consecutive scheduled meetings; or
-Submit a letter of resignation to the chairperson.

In the event of any of the above situations, the chairperson will appoint, in the case of an elected member, another representative. Candidates for such a position will be submitted by a two to three person nominating committee. In the case of an appointed member, the principal will select a replacement. All replacements will be made with approval of the general committee.  The replacement will not serve a full term, but finish the term of the person replaced. 

Article VI  Officers

The officers of the Taylors Elementary School Improvement Council will consist of a chairperson and secretary. The chairperson will be elected by the previous year’s council.  The chairperson will not be an employee of Taylors Elementary School. The secretary will be elected at the first council meeting of the academic year. Ex-officio members are not eligible to be an officer of the council.  

  Article VII  Duties of Officers

The chairperson will preside at all meetings and have general supervision of the activities of the council. The chairperson will work with the principal in planning and directing the activities of the council.  The chairperson, in consultation with the principal, will prepare an agenda for all council meetings, and have the authority to modify the agenda if it is determined to be in the best interest of the council’s work. The chairperson will appoint temporary or standing committees as needed and serve as an ex-officio member of all committees. The chairperson will also appoint a two to three person nominating committee to replace elected members when necessary. 

The responsibilities of the secretary are as follows:  

·        Record an accurate account of the proceedings and transactions of all council meetings; 

·        Provide copy of the minutes to the council members, all faculty members, and/or other appropriate district administrative staff within one week of the last meeting;  

·        Prepare any official correspondence that the chairperson may request;  

·        Maintain a file in the school’s administrative offices containing copies of all minutes, council correspondence, the annual school improvement report, the annual summary report, and the current 
 council  bylaws; and

·        Maintain a listing of the council membership with current telephone numbers and addresses. 

Article VIII  Meetings

The council will meet a minimum if eight meetings each school year.  Additional meetings may be called by the principal or chairperson as long as all council members are notified of the meeting at least 24 hours in advance.  All meetings of the School Improvement Council shall be held at Taylors Elementary School in a location designated by the school principal.   Council decisions should be made by consensus.  If voting becomes necessary, a simple majority will be sufficient for a vote on any issue.  Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall be the governing parliamentary authority for school councils in all cases applicable but not inconsistent with these bylaws.  Council meetings are open to the public and anyone showing an interest in the council and its activities will be encouraged to attend.  Persons interested in presenting at a council meeting may request to be put on the agenda by contacting the chairperson.

Article IX  Training

An orientation session will be held annually for all council members that includes information about council roles, responsibilities, and functions as well as information on school and local district policies and procedures and is sponsored by the district office, the Professional Development Section of the South Carolina State Department of Education, or School Improvement Council Assistance (SICA) in the University of South Carolina s College of Education.   Training and technical assistance is available from the district, the State Department of Education, and SICA. 

Article X  Amendments

These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the council by a majority vote of those present provided that the specific amendments have been introduced at a prior meeting, included in the minutes of that meeting, and are listed on the agenda for the current meeting. 
 

When you are involved in your child's education, it sends a powerful message to your child that both he, and his education, are important to you-- and this is something that he can't learn from anyone else.  

Your involvement in your child's education both before Kindergarten, and all through the school years, is the single most important factor in your child’s school success.

Parental involvement in your child's education can mean:

• Reading to your child

• Checking homework every night

• Discussing your children's progress with teachers

• Voting in school board elections

• Helping Taylors Elementary continue to set challenging academic standards

• Limiting TV viewing on school nights

• Becoming an advocate for better education in South Carolina by joining our Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) or School Improvement Council (SIC).

Or, it can be as simple as asking your children, "Tell me about your day."  But ask every day. That will send your children the clear message that their schoolwork is important to you and you expect them to learn.  Some parents and families are able to be involved in their child's education in many ways. Others may only have time for one or two activities. Whatever your level of involvement, do it consistently and stick with it because you will make an important difference in your child's life.

Why Is Parental Involvement Important?

In study after study, researchers discover how important it is for parents to be actively involved in their child's education. Here are some of the findings of major research into parental involvement:

• When parents are involved in their children's education at home, they do better in school. And when parents are involved in school, children go farther in school — and the schools they go to are better.

• The family makes critical contributions to student achievement from preschool through high school. A home environment that encourages learning is more important to student achievement than income, education level or cultural background.

• Reading achievement is more dependent on learning activities in the home than is math or science. Reading aloud to children is the most important activity that parents can do to increase their child's chance of reading success. Talking to children about books and stories read to them also supports reading achievement.

• When children and parents talk regularly about school, children perform better academically.

• Three kinds of parental involvement at home are consistently associated with higher student achievement: actively organizing and monitoring a child's time, helping with homework and discussing school matters.

• The earlier that parent involvement begins in a child's educational process, the more powerful the effects.

• Positive results of parental involvement include improved student achievement, reduced absenteeism, improved behavior, and restored confidence among parents in their children's schooling.                                                Source: National Education Association