By Stephen Smoot
Running a school right takes more than just excellent teachers, tremendous school administrators, and the work of the central office, Board of Education, and the schools superintendent.
West Virginia state code also requires the involvement of Local School Improvement Councils, or LSICs. By law, every school in the State of West Virginia must have an LSIC.
One of the key features of an LSIC lies in its model of broad participation. According to the West Virginia Department of Education, under statute the council must include teachers, service personnel, bus drivers, parents, and business and community representatives.
School LSICs provide a link, or liaison, between the schools and also parents and community stakeholders. Councils must meet at least four times a year, but can come together more often if wanted or needed.
As the WVDE website explains, “LSICs give parents and community leaders the opportunity to be involved in the school’s vision for excellence and the school’s strategic improvement process.” School principals appoint three at-large members of the community. At least one must reside in the official attendance area and one must represent local business and/or industry.
Parents elect other parents, guardians, or custodians (of students, not school service employees.) Once a year. LSICs hold stakeholder meetings to address progress, issues, and/or concerns.
The councils have a direct impact on making schools safer and more effective in their mission to students. David Decker, principal of Lincoln High School, explained how that facility has embraced the LSIC as a tool of improvement.
“Recently,” he said, “our LSIC chairman has been Mr. Kevin Nuzum. He’s a pastor of a local church.” Decker went on to explain how “one of our highlighted projects” was “spearheaded by Mr. Nuzum.” The LSIC played a key role in having sidewalks extended from the school down to nearby fast food restaurants that are after school snacking favorites amongst many students. The council also helped the school to obtain flashing safety lights as well.
Decker added that he expected that Pastor Nuzum would return as chairman, pending a vote during the first school year meeting, scheduled for September.
LSICs focus on more than the school’s physical facility and surroundings. Councils help to advise the schools on a variety of issues. They receive reports on attendance, discipline, academic progress, and other vital issues. Decker noted that the councils serve as an important and helpful source of ideas.
The principal added that working with the LSICs shows some of the most important characteristics of Lincoln High School. He said “that is one thing that we take pride in at LHS. We are a community school, a small school that has an ear for the community that we serve.”
Decker emphasized that parents and others could support the school in other ways as well, such as through band or athletic boosters. He urged parents to “stop in the office. We do need volunteers.” Additionally, the schools recruits community help for its annual Building Hope Assembly for incoming freshmen.
The first LSIC meeting will take place Sept 10 at 3 PM on the Lincoln High School campus.