A School Climate Committee shall be established at each school site. The committee shall assist the principal in assessing the school climate, identifying and evaluating current programs directed at improving pupil climate at the school sites, and in proposing, developing, and implementing school-wide programming and procedures that promote the district's core value of respect among all and a better understanding and respect of differences among the pupils and staff. Such respect and understanding includes, but is not limited to, differences because of race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, cultural background, physical appearance, socio-economic status, and academic achievement.
A good school climate, in part, depends on an effective partnership between the school and the parents/guardians of the pupils. Therefore, the School Climate Committee shall work with the school and other school groups (e.g., PTA, School Site Council) to develop ways by which all parents, especially parents new to the community, are assisted in their understanding and full participation in the school- parent/guardian partnership.
Complaints about individual situations are responded to through district Board policies and administrative regulations. The principal shall ensure that the School Climate Committee is trained to supportively refer individual complaints to the school's and the district's complaint processes.
(cf. 1312.1 - Complaints Concerning District Employees)
(cf. 1312.2 - Complaints Concerning Instructional Materials)
(cf. 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures)
(cf. 5145.3 - Nondiscrimination/Harassment)
(cf. 5145.7 - Sexual Harassment)
The committee shall annually elect a chair from its volunteer membership.
The committee shall be a standing committee of the school site, operating separately from other school site groups and reporting directly to the principal. By reporting directly to the principal, the committee's efforts shall be integrated with the operations and programs of the overall school.
The School Climate Committee shall meet regularly, preferably monthly, beginning in the fall, to fulfill its role. The committee composition is expected to include staff and parent representation. At the secondary school level, the committee shall include pupil representation. Every reasonable effort shall be made so that the committee as a whole reflects the diversity of the backgrounds of the school's pupils. The membership of the committee shall be open to those interested and not be restricted to elected members of another school group.
School Climate Committees shall seek opportunities when possible to share with other school climate committees' findings and best practices, discuss trends, and explore avenues to promote equity and justice district wide.
In addition, at least twice each school year, the Superintendent or designee shall convene a meeting of a representative from each school site School Climate Committee. The purposes of these meetings are to evaluate the work of these committees from a district-wide perspective and to share successful practices and programs.
The work of this committee and its results shall include a mid-year progress report sent to the Superintendent and an end-of-the-year report to the Board of Education. The end-of-the-year report shall include an evaluation of the work of the committee, including recommendations for the next year. The school climate end-of-the-year report shall be included in the schools' annual end-of-the-year report to the Board.
Policy DAVIS JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: June 26, 2003 Davis, California
reviewed: April 2, 2009