Superintendent Community Advisory Council (SCAC) – Phase 2

The second phase of the Councils’ work was conducted from September 2021 – April 2022 and focused on three areas: oversight of implementation of Phase 1 recommendations, recommendations to the Superintendent on how community partners can best support and contribute to the district’s global competency framework, and input to the School Board on the desired qualities, expertise, and priorities of the next Superintendent.

Purpose

The Bellevue School District Superintendent Community Advisory Council (S-CAC) was formed in September 2020 to engage a diverse set of voices in district budgeting and other foundational decisions.  The Advisory Committee provides input and makes recommendations to the Superintendent on issues determined by the Superintendent.

Why is this Important?

The global pandemic caused by COVID-19, coupled with the racial justice movement in the U.S., affords school districts a unique opportunity to think differently and design better solutions for all students.  Bellevue School District has sought the engagement of a broad cross-section of stakeholders to bring new ideas to the fore; to embrace the innovation, creativity, and passion for public education that exists in our community, and to include community members as thought partners.

This effort builds on the feedback loops and continuous improvement efforts the district has in place.  The Advisory Committee is an important vehicle to promote:

• Engagement of community stakeholders in identifying district priorities.
• Strengthened feedback loops with families and students.
• Expanded access to parents and other community members through the networks of participants.
• Opportunities to test and socialize new ideas and approaches.

Members

Expectations for Members

The Advisory Committee members are expected to:

• Support the purpose of the project.
• Hold equity and the district’s values at the center of the work: service, integrity, compassion, excellence, respect, and collaboration.
• Bring a district-wide perspective; resist the urge to advocate for a single issue or student group
• Assume that together we know more; work to understand and value the assumptions, opinions, and ideas of others.
• Be open to unconventional approaches; new conditions demand new solutions.
• Engage in learning, dialogue, listening, and offering feedback.
• Bring your own lived experience and perspectives to the process.
• Attend all meetings; come prepared and ready to contribute.
• Share airtime: everyone participates, no one person dominates.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Advisory Committee is:

• Charged with providing input and recommendations to the Superintendent.
• Encouraged to communicate and share their work and thinking with their own networks.
• Invited to identify members who can pro-actively liaise with other district advisory groups to foster communication and collaboration.
• Asked to commit time to reading and preparation in between meetings.

The Advisory Committee is not charged with implementing changes in the district, including determining or executing procedural or policy changes.

The chair or co-chairs will provide periodic updates to the Board of Directors as directed by the Superintendent.

The Superintendent will consider the Committee’s input and recommendations.

Extensive Stakeholder Engagement

The work of the committee will be augmented by one-on-one interviews and focus groups with other district stakeholders and constituents.  Findings from these intake sessions will be shared with the committee during the course of their regularly scheduled meetings.

Term

Members serve one-year terms.

Documents

Members will be asked to review articles, documents, and other relevant materials between meetings and in preparation for meetings.  Meeting materials will be shared at least 48 hours in advance of each meeting.  The Committee is charged with producing one or more written reports with its recommendations and will be supported in that effort.

Meeting Schedule

Meeting locations, agendas, and minutes will be posted.