‘Do we need to tell schools across the state that you have to have parent involvement?? said Dr.Al Roberts, superintendent.
The Clarkston school district is implementing new guidelines to the current parent involvementpolicy. PA107 is a new law that requires school boards across the state to have a policy and plan on parental/guardian involvement. This new law takes effect January 2005.
In order to get the plan going, the school board must develop a policy by looking at the current guidelines and emphasizing certain areas. The board must also maintain the balance for parent involvement with student safety.
With the current policy, student safety is recognized in every day events. Even the safety of a child whose parents are considering divorce is noticed. The district arranges for parent teacher conferences, meetings and special events to bring the parents into the school.
‘Parental involvement is not an issue for our school district,? said Roberts. ‘We are fortunate that we have such wonderful and involved parents.?
This new policy will not change the exsisting policy for Clarkston schools. The current policy covers relationships with parents and children, school visitors, parental participation and Title 1 programs, and parent volunteers. The board believes parents have a responsibility to encourage and support their children. The only changes may be in verbage.
The Clarkston district agrees PA107 is an important piece to a better school environment. However, the school district already has these types of policies in place, and they are reviewed annually to make certain they are kept up to date.
‘This is an unnecessary law,? said Roberts. ‘Because educators know that whenever parent participation is high you have a better school system.?
‘We already have so much involvement,? said Roberts. ‘We still have the involvement of parents whose kids have already graduated and even the support of grandparents.?
The district will form a team of teachers, parents and administrators to receive feedback on how to improve the existing guidelines. The board will then execute these new guidelines and try to get everyone involved in the new changes.
‘We already have an amazing amount of support from parents,? said board President Karen Foyteck. ‘For us this is redundant.?
Though redundant, the school district will comply with these changes and take the appropriate steps. This law is relatively recent, and the deadline is just a few months away.
The school board adopted the first reading for PA107 at the Nov.8 school board meeting.
The next meeting on the topic will be Dec. 13, when the board will either approve or deny the new guidelines, in which case, the board would meet again in January with the changes.
‘The guidelines will be altered,? said Roberts. ‘But what will not be altered is the intent to keep parents, guardians and other citizens involved in our schools.?