About SB Charter - Parent Handbook

The SBCS provides a unique opportunity for partnerships between families, teachers and students. As a parent/staff co-op, SBCS relies on the participation of all of its community members to make things work. In all collaborations, each participant has certain rights and responsibilities in working with a larger group toward a common goal. The following provides guidelines for SBCS community member's rights and responsibilities in our common goal- the education of our children.

The following categories describe unique features of SBCS that allow for the higher level of parent participation incumbent on the SBCS educational and organizational model.

Each SBCS community member has:

• The right to give input and feedback to the school regarding all aspects of its planning and operation;
• The right to participate in decision making for the school;
• The right to have concerns acknowledged and, when possible, addressed:
• The right to be informed about aspects of decisions facing SBCS;
• The right to have clearly defined avenues by which input can be productively offered and received;
• The responsibility to use approved channels of communication to voice feedback, concerns or input-community members should expect to be redirected if this is not done;
• The responsibility to be part of the solution of, as well as to identify problems or concerns;
• The responsibility to participate in decision making bodies of the school;
• The responsibility to be respectful of students, staff and other community members in all SBCS interactions;
• The responsibility to become familiar with information provided by SBCS in orientation materials, phone tree communications and home information packets (Tuesday packets);
• The responsibility to complete and submit attendance contracts (SBCS funding depends on this), permission forms and other required school documents in a timely manner;
• The responsibility to restrict feedback and input to only approved communication channels.

Each SBCS community member has:

• The right to a school where childrens' safety is the highest priority;
• The right to expect that children and adults at SBCS will be free of physical punishment or abuse or verbal abuse under any/all circumstances;
• The right to feel safe and respected in all interactions with teachers, staff and other parents;
• The right to receive appreciation for their efforts on behalf of the school;
• The right to have their family’s and child’s confidentiality upheld and respected;
• The right to attend and/or monitor all meetings and functions of the SBCS, except where prohibited by law or confidentiality guidelines;
• The right to be informed about the progress of their child at SBCS
• The responsibility to give student safety the highest priority during all SBCS activities;
• The responsibility to be familiar with and to use only approved SBCS disciplinary and conflict resolution techniques in dealing with students- when in doubt, consult a teacher;
• The responsibility to show respect in all interactions with other s at SBCS and when representing the school to the general public- verbally or physically threatening behavior can not be tolerated;
• The responsibility to address issues with those directly involved rather than sharing concerns with others first;
• The responsibility to show appreciation to all of those who volunteer to help make SBCS work (this is probably more a hope than a responsibility);
• The responsibility to comply with rules regarding confidentiality for students, families and staff;
• The responsibility to participate in the information sharing processes (conferences, phone conversations and written messages/reports) regarding your children.