Call for Site Council Parent Reps

Submitted by Rene Hart

WANTED: PARENT REPRESENTATIVES for
2012-2014 Gunn Site Council
Site Council needs two (2) parent representatives to serve a two-year term, starting next September. Are you interested? Here are the FAQS:

1. WHO CAN SERVE: Any Gunn parent who wants to work on policy development and financial decision-making in a cooperative setting with 4 faculty, 3 staff, 3 other parents and 4 students. Each representative serves a 2-year term. A maximum of 4 consecutive years (2 terms in a row) is allowed, according to the bylaws. Thus, two of the four parents on Site Council are up for re-election or replacement each year. (YOUR CHILD MUST BE A SOPHOMORE, FRESHMAN OR 8TH GRADER THIS YEAR IN ORDER FOR YOU TO SERVE.)
• WHAT DOES SITE COUNCIL DO: Around $45,000 in funds from state and district grants are given to Site Council to spend on departmental projects which are "new and innovative" and/or significantly benefit our students and staff...everything from "pilot classes" such as the Algebra Restart class and Multi-cultural Literature to curriculum development to updating classroom technology to iclickers for Social Studies and English and a Broadcasting Teleprompter for CTE. Each spring, we issue a call for proposals from every department on campus for the following year. Each project is evaluated to determine its effectiveness in meeting its projected goals. We additionally work on the School Plan, and work on WASC, as well as issues that crop up through the year.
• WHEN DO WE MEET? You must be willing to devote 2.0 hours a month for 1 or 2 monthly meetings on Monday afternoons at 3:55 here at Gunn in the Staff Lounge.
• WHAT QUALIFICATIONS ARE NEEDED? You must have a child enrolled at Gunn High School, possess some financial and/or policy decision-making abilities, and be able to attend meetings at least once a month. No, you do not need to be a CPA or CEO - just genuinely interested in taking the time to learn how Gunn operates and a desire to improve life and learning here for our students and staff.
• HOW DO YOU APPLY? Complete the form below to the Site Council office NO LATER THAN MON., FEBRUARY 24. The slate of candidates will be published posted for two weeks on GunnConnection - one vote per household is allowed. The paper and/or e-ballots will be tabulated with the results posted in April or May.
Questions? Please call the Site Council desk in the Main Office at 849-7932 or email to rhart@pausd.org. Otherwise, complete the application below. Either fax it to 493-7801, mail it to Gunn at 780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306, or email the needed info to rhart@pausd.org
Your Name ____________________________________________________
Your Gunn student(s)’s name(s) and grade(s) _________________________
Your Address __________________________________________________ Phone ________________________ Fax ___________________________
Email_________________________________________________________
Background statement (Previous experience on Site Council? Special expertise? Work and/or life experiences that are valuable in group decision-making situations?) (LIMIT TO ONE SHORT PARAGRAPH PLEASE)
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