ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
This chapter examines the organization and management of the Grape Creek Independent School District (GCISD) in four parts:
- A. Board Governance
- B. District and School Management
- C. Personnel Management
- D. Community Involvement
D. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Community involvement is essential to both the success of a school district and the quality of life within a school district's community. Community involvement includes those activities that enable parents, business leaders and others with a stake in public education to become involved in the district.
Effective community involvement programs address the unique characteristics of the school district and the community. A critical component of community involvement programs includes strategies for externally communicating with the community and internally communicating within the school district. Other essential program components include methods for recruiting volunteers and soliciting business support for campus functions and outreach activities designed to encourage community participation in the district.
The director of Public Information and Grants is responsible for managing community involvement for GCISD.
FINDING
GCISD has an active Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) program, particularly in the elementary school. The VIPS support the mission of GCISD, which is "to provide an exemplary education for all students through a quality school system."
The district had 41 VIPS in 1999-2000 that contributed 343 volunteer hours towards activities such as:
- tutoring individual students;
- helping kindergarten students take their computer tests;
- assisting in the library shelving books;
- assisting with school picture day;
- running errands for the dental van;
- assisting with vision and hearing screening;
- assisting with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA); and
- helping with special projects such as the University Interscholastic League (UIL)-sponsored activities.
The district and the PTA sponsor an awards luncheon each year to honor the volunteers. They also have formal training orientation for new VIPs each fall, using materials from the National Association of Partners in Education, Inc., along with materials the district has produced. The district trains all VIPs in sexual harassment and trains teachers in how to use VIPs effectively in their classrooms.
The district's PTA is very active. Over the past year, it has supported the district's Accelerated Reader program by providing incentives for reading, including awards and items in the Accelerated Reader "store." The PTA also supports the district's employees by providing items that show appreciation to them and by supporting the annual employee appreciation banquet financially. The PTA also provides financial support to several school education projects including an Outdoor Education Project conducted by the fourth grade at the H-E-B camp in Leakey, Texas. They also supported an Abstinence Education Program in 2000-01 in high school and middle school.
The district's Technology Task Force consists of district employees from all campuses as well as parent representatives and student representatives. This committee reviews technology needs, purchases and donations as well as any district technology grants.
The Citizens Committee was formed in 1999 to study financial options as the district investigated the possibility of a bond election. This well-organized group worked hard to study options to meet the educational needs of the district, including consolidating with another school district, holding a bond election or going to a "basic school" format where only the core subjects are taught. This committee included parents, community members and business leaders. They finalized their report and made a formal recommendation to the district's Board of Trustees.
The high school has athletic and band booster clubs that involve high school parents in students' athletic and band activities, including raising funds for uniforms and helping with UIL-sponsored activities. Coordinated by the University of Texas, UIL promotes academic and athletic competition among the state's public schools.
Another volunteer group is the mentoring program that pairs a trained adult mentor with an at-risk child for the year to work on the student's self-esteem and study skills weekly.
COMMENDATION
GCISD uses volunteers effectively to support the district's education mission.
FINDING
The Grape Creek Education Foundation has secured thousands of dollars in donations from large corporations and local businesses as well as community individuals. The mission of the Grape Creek Education Foundation is to enhance the educational environment in the GCISD.
The Grape Creek Education Foundation was formed in August 1999 when it became a recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the Internal Revenue Service. The foundation was established as an 11-member board who developed the organization's mission and purpose statements. Later, the foundation added an additional member to the board, and it remains a 12-member board today.
The purpose of the Grape Creek Education Foundation is to seek and secure grants, endowments and donations for the enhancement of educational opportunities for persons of all ages in the GCISD. Funds can be disbursed to meet physical or professional development needs, extracurricular programs or special project sponsorships. This can include, but is not limited to, the purchase of equipment, technology, books, curriculum, furniture and facilities as well as support for programs by supplying stipends, money for instructional substitutes/aides, and expenses for field trips and training.
The foundation entered into a memorandum of understanding with GCISD whereby the district will support the endeavors of the foundation by sharing office space, a telephone line and support materials. The district's director of Public Information and Grants also provides support to the foundation. The foundation's office is located in the high school.
To expand the foundation's grant resources, the board became a charter member of the Grant Center of the Concho Valley. Through this resource, the foundation has access to foundation catalogs and online grant search services, as well as access to a grant consultant.
In support of teachers, the foundation awards a $25 gift certificate to the local teacher store to those staff members who have created the best Web site pages for each six-week grading period. The teacher or aide is given recognition in the local newspaper and district publications. When an eighth grade teacher needed help raising funds for an outdoor education project, the foundation secured a $1,200 grant to help pay for it, and when the publications department needed software, the foundation identified another $1,707 in grants to cover the expense for three software titles.
The establishment of a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization has opened up many opportunities for securing grants and donations for which a school district would not otherwise qualify. The foundation has assisted other school districts in setting up supporting nonprofit organizations. As an aid to those wishing to set up a foundation, the Grape Creek Education Foundation has organized a "Help Packet" available for a nominal amount.
COMMENDATION
GCISD's educational foundation provides funds to support innovative academic and staff development projects.