Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Governance Council?

As a district-affiliated charter school, Carpenter has significant autonomy over policies, programs, and procedures at the school.

The school's Governance Council, comprised of elected teacher, parent, and staff representatives, participates in decisions regarding curriculum, hiring, budget, enrollment, and day-to-day and long-term administrative concerns. The Council acts in an advisory capacity to the administration, which is responsible for running the school. There are 16 representatives on the Governance Council divided equally between staff and parents. Elections are held in the spring of each year to fill vacant Governance Council positions. Representatives are elected to a two-year term by their respective constituencies.

When and where do Council meetings take place?

Governance Council meetings take place in Café West after school on the third Thursday of the month. Meetings begin at 2:45 pm. They typically run about one and a half to two hours long.

I cannot attend the Governance meetings. How can I find out what is happening?

Meeting agendas and minutes and are available by clicking the Agendas/Minutes link on the on the left side of the Governance webpage. Minutes are also posted on the bulletin board in the main hallway. Committee meeting minutes are available by clicking on the specific committee name on the left side of the Governance webpage.

What should I do if have a concern that I would like to bring to the Governance Council?

Attend a monthly Governance meeting; agendas are available on the website 72 hours before each meeting. You can raise your issue during the Public Comment period. Public Comments are limited to three minutes per speaker, per issue. You will be asked to sign in at the beginning of the meeting. If you cannot attend the meeting, you can email your comment, question, or concern to the Governance Council at [email protected]

I would like to make a proposal for a change at Carpenter. What do I do?

We welcome prepared, concise, and well-researched proposals from members of the community. Please refer to our proposal guidelines and review sample proposals in the Governance binder in the Principal's office). Be sure to contact the Council Chair ([email protected]) more than seventy-two hours prior to the meeting to submit a PDF of your proposal and to be added to the agenda. The Council highly recommends that you submit a draft of your proposal to the chair at least two weeks before the meeting to allow for preliminary feedback in the event that more due diligence must be conducted.

How can I get more involved with the Governance Council?

You can attend monthly Governance Council meetings and stay up-to-date by reading meeting minutes and committee reports on the website (posted after each meeting). You may also run for a Parent Representative position in our next election. Elections are held each fall at the beginning of the school year. Another way to get involved is to join one of our Standing or Ad-Hoc advisory committees.