Curriculum Coordinating Council
The Curriculum Coordinating Council is a permanent group
representative of district personnel and community members that
advises the Board of Education, through the superintendent, in
matters concerning curriculum and instruction. The CCC’s purpose is
to establish and maintain academic program governance. It will serve
as the “keeper of the vision” as it assures compliance with the
district mission statement, curriculum policy, and long range plans.
Additionally, the CCC’s purpose is to be a positive influence in the
systematic process of integrating and aligning the curriculum and
district-wide assessments.
The CCC makes all professional decisions pertaining to
curriculum, instruction, assessment and student learning. The CCC
serves as a sounding board for certified personnel in curriculum
instruction and assessment matters; oversees staff development
needs; directs the work of Subject Area Committees; appoints and
directs other committees as necessary for the development,
implementation and long term evaluation of curriculum, instruction
and assessment in District #301.
The CCC will not make managerial decisions related to buildings,
personnel, budget, or any other agenda items reserved for the
administrative team, building principals, or site teams.
Meetings
The CCC will meet a minimum of once each month for carrying out
its functions. The December meeting may be waived by the CCC members
if there are no pressing curriculum issues. Primary meeting dates
will be noted on the district calendar. Second meeting dates will
also be tentatively reserved for use if needed. All members shall be
informed of meeting dates at the beginning of the school year.
Notification of any extra meeting will be at least five working days
in advance of the meeting. Special meetings may be called by the
curriculum director, the superintendent, or at least five members of
the CCC.
Decision-making Process
All decisions shall be by those members present. The following
principles and procedures will be utilized in the decision-making
process.
- Reaching agreement on decisions is the goal to which the
group should strive. Continuous communication, understanding,
and supportive unity are critical features to meeting consensus.
- Every member’s opinion is valuable and needs to be heard.
- Each member needs to be open to the perspectives of others.
- Questions need to be asked back and forth in order to gain a
more accurate understanding of others’ opinions.
- If a member disagrees, he/she should not initially “give in”
just to reach easier agreement or to avoid controversy. Initial
agreement of the group will be determined by the Fist-to-Five
consensus procedures.
- If consensus is not reached in the initial decision-making
stages due to a fisted block and disagreement continues, at
least one of the following actions or alternatives will be
followed: a. Restate each position, including added thought from
each side of the disagreement, to bring more information or
understanding for consideration. b. Withdraw the problem. c.
Postpone the decision. d. Develop a compromise or provisional
solution.
- If a consensus
decision is still not achieved, a single member may not hold up
the decision making process. A yes or no silent vote will be
initiated and an 80% approval will prevail regardless of a
member’s decision to fist the consensus issue. The percentage
will be based on members present at the time of voting.
Fist-to-Five Procedures
Five Fingers: If the participant holds up all five fingers,
he/she is indicating he/she fully supports the consensus issue and
will be willing to actively support and, if necessary, step forward
to take a leadership position with its implementation.
Four Fingers: If the participant holds up four fingers, he/she
supports this consensus issue and will work to implement it.
Three Fingers: If the participant holds up three fingers, he/she
accepts this consensus issue and believes it can work and will
provide support for its implementation.
Two Fingers: If the participant holds up two fingers, he/she is
not completely sold on the consensus issue, however will keep an
open mind on its possibility for success.
One Finger: If the participant holds up one finger, it is
indicating that he/she does not favor this consensus issue. He/she
is indicating that it is not the best response but will not sabotage
its implementation.
Fist: If the participant holds up a fist, this indicates that
he/she cannot accept or “live with” the consensus issue. The process
or decision is stopped for one additional round of discussion. If
one gives it a fist, one must be prepared to give a reason and a
possible alternative.
Consensus has been reached if the Fist-to-Five procedures results
in a confidence vote of 80 (i.e., each finger is given one point
value and points are divided by total points possible).
Quorum
A quorum is necessary for meetings to be conducted. A quorum is
defined as a simple majority of the membership. The quorum for this
committee shall be 9 members present.
Channels of Communication
All recommendations of the CCC will be presented to the Board of
Education by the superintendent or his designee. In the event that
the superintendent does not support the recommendations of the CCC,
the curriculum director will present the views of the CCC.
(Certified personnel who serve as members of the CCC serve as
communicators to their representative groups.)
Agenda Development and Procedure
Agenda items for consideration may be proposed by CCC members,
certified personnel, or the superintendent. Items should be
submitted to the curriculum director at least 10 working days prior
to the scheduled meeting. Agenda and notification of the meeting
shall be distributed to the members of the CCC, and a copy posted in
each building. This notification will occur at least 5 days prior to
the meeting. The director will establish the priority of agenda
items. Routinely, agendas for each following meeting are established
by consensus at the conclusion of each regular meeting.
Maintenance of Meeting Records
Minutes of all meetings shall be recorded and kept on file by the
secretary. Minutes will be forwarded to the curriculum director, CCC
members, the superintendent, and to each building for posting after
approval.
Amendments
The following items are subject to review at the beginning of
each year: the mission statement, the long-range plan for
curriculum, and the policy document. If any changes are deemed
necessary after analysis, then the CCC will make amendments
following the standard procedure for decision making.
Personnel
Curriculum director: The position of curriculum director shall be
permanent, and filled through regular district personnel procedures.
Chairperson of the CCC: The curriculum director serves as the
chairperson of the CCC with the following duties:
- Presides at all regular meetings.
- Prepares agendas for all regular meetings.
- Provides notification of all meetings.
- Calls any special meetings.
- Assists in conducting in-service activities.
- Oversees the selection of CCC members according to policy
document and provides training, using current CCC members as
resources.
- With CCC approval, appoints and trains SAC members.
- Monitors attendance of CCC members.
- Receives all written resignations of CCC members.
- Prepares a monthly report on the activities of the CCC to be
presented to the superintendent and the Board of Education.
- Recommends yearly committee goals and objectives.
- Represents the CCC at all Board of Education meetings and
other appropriate public functions, or appoints a CCC member to
do so.
- Assures that all district committees adhere to the goals of
the mission statement and the long range plan.
- Distributes written curriculum to all staff including new
staff.
- District-wide assessments.
Secretary: The curriculum director and the superintendent shall
select a person who is not a member of the CCC to serve as
secretary. The salary or stipend shall be reviewed yearly and
adjusted based on hours of work and the level and type of production
required. The duties include:
- Attends all CCC meetings.
- Takes accurate and thorough notes of proceedings.
- Types and duplicates notifications and minutes of all
meetings; distributes them to all CCC members, the
superintendent, one copy to the curriculum director, a copy for
posting in all buildings, and to other designated staff.
- Maintains all CCC minutes, correspondence, and other
pertinent documents.
- Performs necessary secretarial tasks for the timely
completion of CCC and SAC tasks.
- Demonstrates willingness to work closely with the curriculum
director, all CCC members and SAC members for the success of the
curriculum development process.
Members of the CCC
The members of the CCC shall be representative of district
certified personnel and parent/community members. Interested persons
are asked to complete an application and submit it to the curriculum
director. The curriculum director will work with the superintendent
in making the final selections. Principals will be asked for their
input on teacher applicants and will be asked periodically to make
recommendations. District personnel members of the CCC will be
selected on the basis of interest and experience. Parent/community
members must represent a community or school organization and will
be selected according to interest, availability, and a rotation
among buildings and levels. Member replacement will be made to
maintain appropriate representation.
- Terms: Members of the first CCC will serve staggered terms
of 1, 2, and 3 years. After initial appointments, all members
will serve 3 year terms. Members may re- apply.
- Resignation: A CCC member may resign at any time. A letter
of resignation shall be submitted to the curriculum director at
least one regular meeting before the effective date of the
resignation. The resigning member’s constituency will be
immediately notified by the director. The opening will be filled
promptly from the constituency according to the selection
procedures.
- Composition of the CCC: Member selection is meant to provide
for a variety of personal and professional traits, and assurance
that all grade levels and professional categories are
represented.
| Primary teachers (K-2) |
2 |
| Intermediate teachers (3-5) |
2 |
| Middle level (6-8) |
2 |
| High school (9-12) |
2 |
| Certified teachers outside regular
classroom |
2 |
| Parent/community members, by level
|
3 |
| High School Counselor* |
1 |
| Administrators by level* |
3 |
| Assistant Superintendent* |
1 (non-voting member) |
| Superintendent* |
1 |
| Literacy Coordinator* |
1 |
| Curriculum Director* |
1 (non-voting member) |
| Board member ** |
2 (one voting member) |
| Total members |
23 |
* These members are on the CCC by virtue of their positions;
they do not apply for membership
** The Board of Education selects two members to serve on the
CCC.
- Stipends: The CCC members will be paid a stipend for
attending meetings that are outside their contract of
employment. CCC members may also serve as chairperson or a
committee member for a subject area committee. Administrative
personnel may not receive stipends, in accordance with board
policy. Stipends are issued in accordance with the Teacher/Board
Master Contract and board policy.
- Attendance: If a member is unable to attend, they are
strongly encouraged to designate a representative in his/her
place, however, this designee may not vote. A member may be
absent no more than 3 regular meetings during one fiscal year.
CCC members will be contacted by the coordinator after 2
absences. In the case of an ex-officio member’s absences, the
CCC as a whole or the supervisor of that member will make a
recommendation.
- Duties of an individual CCC member:
- Completes an orientation program in the curriculum model.
- Completes an orientation program in the curriculum
model.
- Attends all regularly scheduled meetings of the CCC.
- Maintains positive communication between the CCC and
building faculties, facilitating teacher ownership of
curriculum planning.
- Duties of the CCC as a working group:
- Acts as the communication link between certified staff
and their represented group; promotes and encourages
communication between buildings and levels in the district
- Establishes meeting dates and length of meetings
- Sets and prioritizes goals for the year
- Reviews curriculum policy documents on a yearly basis
and makes revisions when appropriate
- Reviews the district mission statement on a yearly basis
as presented by the Board of Education; assures that the
mission statement is a working statement used in all
decision making circumstances
- Develops a long range plan for curriculum development,
implementation, and evaluation, with an annual review of
progress and direction
- Assists the director in selecting subject area committee
members who are not part of the CCC
- Establishes guidelines for Subject Area Committees,
approves the work done by these committees, and recommends
completed work to the Board of Education
- Assists Subject Area Committees with staff development
sessions related to new curriculums
- Recommends staff development sessions based on the needs
and timelines of the curriculum model
- Guides the district through the process of defining
mastery and periodically validates that definition. The CCC
will oversee the SAC’s work in defining this mastery
- Discusses and possibly recommends modification of
student progress reports
- Creates a plan for extended learning opportunities
- Makes decisions about core assessments
- Receives information from buildings regarding
implementation of any of the approved initiatives listed
above
- Reviews the latest trends and developments in curriculum
and instruction and makes decisions regarding applicability
in the district
Subject Area Committees (SAC)
The Subject Area Committees will be formed for each subject area.
A committee’s purpose is to prepare a comprehensive curriculum
document, to implement and validate the document, and to find
resources which support the validated curriculum. Subject Area
Committees may be asked to prepare local assessments.
- Selection: Prospective members should show an interest in
curriculum development and have at least one year of classroom
experience. (Exceptions to this rule may occur when particular
teachers must be appointed due to district size and the need for
grade level or course representation.) Council members will
choose SAC members using the criteria mentioned above and
representation for buildings and grade levels. The number may
vary according to subject. No SAC should be larger than 20, and
core subject groups (math, language arts, social studies and
science) should not be smaller than 6.
- Terms: Members will create an annual prescribed action plan
by mid September along with a schedule of meeting dates.
- Resignation: SAC members may resign by submitting a
resignation letter to the CCC. The resigning member’s building
principal and the superintendent will make a recommendation to
the CCC for a replacement. In cases involving the work of the
SAC, the CCC has the right and obligation to make decisions,
including removal and appointment of SAC members, to facilitate
the successful completion of the SAC’s work.
- Stipends: SAC members will receive stipends in accordance
with the policies of the Board of Education.
- Leadership: Chairpersons will preside at meetings, schedule
meetings, plan agendas, monitor attendance, work closely with
the curriculum director, report progress as requested by the CCC.
- Duties of the Members: SAC members are expected to attend
all committee meetings, complete assigned tasks, and maintain
positive communication between the SAC and the building
faculties.
Appendix A - Protocol of the Meeting:
- I will treat each person as a peer.
- I will commit to producing the agreed upon product and
to be present for the agreed upon length of meeting.
- I will contribute, but not dominate.
- I will not hold personal conversations while a public
conversation is occurring.
- I will see through the eyes of others—from their
unique perspectives
- I will communicate openly and honestly
- I will support team decisions outside the meeting
forum
Revised May 24, 2010
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