Lithonia Middle School Principal Advisory Council
The purpose of the Principal Advisory Council is to bring parents, school employees, students and community members together to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other’s perspectives and share ideas for increasing student achievement and performance.
The members of the Principal Advisory Council are accountable to the constituents they serve and shall:
- Maintain a school-wide perspective on issues;
- Act as a link between the school and the community;
- Encourage the engagement of parents and other stakeholders within the school community; and
- Work to increase student achievement and performance through transparent operations and shared best practices.
The Principal Advisory Council operates under the control and management of the DeKalb County School District and will follow Board of Education policies and procedures. The Principal Advisory Council provides advice and recommendations to the school principal, the local board of education and local school superintendent on matters related to school climate/culture, student achievement, and community partnerships.
Notice for Parent/Guardian Nominees
The establishment of Principal Advisory School Councils is intended to help local boards of education by bringing parents and the community together with teachers and school administrators to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other’s concerns and share ideas for school improvement.
The law governing school councils was amended to provide that parents hold a majority on the council and that a parent must serve as the chairperson.
The Principal Advisory School Council, with a minimum membership of one principal, two teachers and four parents, two of whom shall be business persons, are organized to provide advice and recommendations to the school principal and where necessary to the area assistant superintendent, superintendent and local board of education. Among issues that the council shall advise and determine recommendations include but are not limited to the following:
1. Student attendance and academic achievement;
2. School board policies;
3. Consolidated School Improvement Plans;
4. Curriculum and assessments;
5. Report cards issued or audits of the school conducted by the Office of Student Achievement;
6. Development of a school profile which shall contain data as identified by the school council to describe the academic performance, academic progress, services, awards, interventions, environment, and other such data as the school council deems appropriate;
7. School budget priorities, including school capital improvement plans;
8. School-community communication strategies;
9. Methods of involving parents and the community;
10. Extracurricular activities in the school;
11. School-based and community services;
12. Community use of school facilities;
13. Student discipline;
14. Reports from the principal regarding progress toward the school’s student achievement goals, including progress within specific grade levels and subject areas and by school personnel; and
15. The method and specifications for the delivery of early intervention services or other appropriate services for underachieving students.