What is Site Based Improvement (SBI)?
Site Based Improvement is a process in which members of the school community (the principal, teachers, staff, families, students and community members) work together to:
- improve student achievement
- define school goals
- shape school policy and procedures
- solve problems
SBI provides principals, teachers, students and parents greater control over the education process by giving them some responsibility for decisions about the budget, personnel and school goals. The ultimate goal of SBI is to improve education by transferring some decision-making authority from district offices to individual schools.
Site-Based Improvement is a part of the Office of Leadership Development's mission to serve as a resource and liaison for schools, communities and central offices. The Office provides leadership, resources, and support for the district’s site-based efforts to improve student achievement. More information is available from the District’s Office of Site-Based Improvement.
What is a Site Council?
A site council is a team of teachers, staff, parents, principals and others from a school community who work together to help their school be successful. Site councils may:
- help shape and support the school's mission;
- help develop the School Continuous Improvement Plan;
- drive school change and develop conditions for success;
- have input into the selection of school staff and principal;
- help plan and prioritize the school budget.
Through site councils — which can involve school staff, parents, students and other community members in key decisions — SBI can create more effective learning environments for children.
In some cases, site councils can make decisions. In other cases, site councils can make recommendations. In all cases, Board of Education policies on curriculum, standards and assessment must be followed.
Who can attend Site Council meetings?
All Site Council meetings are open to everyone, as stated in the Site Based Improvement Agreement. Guests will agree to follow the Council’s ground rules. Please refer to the meeting schedule for meeting dates, times and locations.
How are issues and ideas brought before the Site Council?
Anyone (staff members, students, parents, community members) may present an issue or idea to the Site Council in writing. For each issue or idea, the Co-Chairs and Principal will decide if it is an appropriate Council matter and/or if it needs referral to an individual (e.g. Principal, District, other staff representative) or to another school committee or group. In order to receive consideration at a regularly scheduled Site Council meeting, issues and ideas must be submitted two weeks prior to the next regularly scheduled Site Council meeting. Please contact the Co-Chairs and/or Principal at their Email addresses. When submitting an issue or idea for consideration, please include:
- Your full name
- Your affiliation to LNFI (staff, parent, student, community member)
- Your contact phone number/the best time to contact you
- Your preferred Email address
- A brief description your issue/idea and some context for your interest/concern in the issue
- Please be sure to let us know if your issue or idea is time sensitive
The Site Council can create a task force to address an issue or idea not covered by standing committees. The issue or idea’s sponsor can be invited to discuss the issue or idea with the Council. All people who submit issues and ideas will receive a response and be informed about what action has been or will be taken.
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