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Address:
Community Engagement
Denver Public Schools
900 Grant Street
Room 710
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 720.423.3433
Fax: 720.423.3732

Collaborative School Committee (CSC)

For the past two years, the climate and culture of DPS has been about change, as the superintendent has sought to move the district in new, and some cases, different, directions. This year, this trend has brought change to the format of site-based decision making that was previously represented by our CDMs.

There are many similarities to CDM, because part of Colorado State law mandates that local school committees must make decisions on behalf of schools.

There are also differences between CDM Committees and CSCs, one of which is the fact that CSCs will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the schools. One element of CSCs that did make the transition from CDM to CSCs is the word “Collaborative”. This is a crucial word, as it describes the spirit of our work.

With the three district goals and the district’s new way of looking at School Improvement Planning, much can happen if we are able to successfully and productively work together toward the mission of “Every Child, Every Day".

In the book, Collaborative Leadership, John Parr of the National Civic League wrote, “Positive change can occur when people with different perspectives are organized into groups in which everyone is regarded as a peer. There must be a high level of involvement, a clear purpose, adequate resources, and the power to decide and implement. Leaders must be willing to promote and facilitate these new processes.”

There are many important aspects to the concept of collaborative decision making; chief among them is that we are most effective when we are working together, and putting children first.

What is distinctive about CSC?

· The purpose and scope of CSC is now found in Board Policy BDFH of the DPS/DCTA Agreement

· Focus on the School Improvement Plan as its primary responsibility at the school

· “Multiple Measures”. These are district-established indicators of individual school performance and data in the following areas: Attendance, graduation-rate, school leadership, instructional quality, student respect, school safety, and other measures such as the School Accountability Rating.

· “Professional Standards Committee”. Charged with implementing the School Improvement Plan (SIP)

· The Personnel Subcommittee stands apart from the CSC and staffs the SIP. (Please note that there are still two parents on the Personnel Subcommittee, chosen by the CSC

· Each CSC will receive bylaws and procedures templates to structure their work