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Katy Citizen Watchdog$ |
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We’re Taxpayers. It’s Our Money. |
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Practical Suggestions for Helping Your Child Part I |
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There are lots of things parents can do to make the school year a calm and pleasant one. I’ve already suggested that parents attend meetings, make notes, ask questions, and sign up to volunteer.
Here is list of some other recommended activities:
1. Start a file for this school year and keep copies of every document that comes home for you to sign or peruse. You probably got a handful of things on the first day of school. Start with these. Sometimes the school will send a document home for you to sign, and when you send it back with your signature, you no longer have a copy. Invariably it will be that document that you will need during the year. Make copies!
2. Keep a file of your child’s work during the school year. Pay attention to the knowledge that your child is being taught and the manner in which it is being taught. Ask questions of your child about his work. Don’t just say, “How was school today?” “Fine” is not a good answer. Go over papers that have “A’s” on them as well as those that don’t. Determine if you believe that an “A” was a deserving mark. Take an interest in what your child is being asked to do.
3. Ask to see all of your child’s weekly test papers and copies of the test. You may see them pursuant to the Texas Open Records Act. Insist that papers be graded by the teacher only (not other students) and returned promptly according to Board Policy.
4. Read the Discipline Management Plan from cover to cover. Your child came home with a copy of this pamphlet on the first day of school. You were required to sign a form saying you had read it and that your child had read it. Read it! You need to know the rules that govern your child. If your child is old enough to understand, please read the Plan with them. If you see rules with which you do not agree, call them to the attention of the principal. Some principals do listen, and the DMP is revised every year. You need to know that KISD does not provide for Due Process (which the Constitution guarantees to all American citizens) if your child gets in legal troubles at school. Your child does not have the same rights as an adult has in the justice system of our country. For this reason it is extremely important that your child know the rules and obey them.
5. Keep a copy of your child’s class schedule in a handy place. Learn his teacher’s names. Know the principal’s name, the assistant principal’s name, the counselor’s name and any other person’s name who is assigned to handle your child’s affairs. Make an effort during the year to have a one on one conversation with those people so they will all know you personally. Also obtain approximate times for each of your child’s classes. In case of an emergency, you need to know where he is during the day.
6. Be aware of the policies under which our school district operates. There is a Board Policy Manual, and it is posted on line at http://www.tasb.org/policy/pol/private/101914/ There are Legal and Local policies which have been approved by the School Board, and they are legally binding on the Board, the employees of the District and the students. There is also a book of Administrative Regulations which are supposed to exist to implement Board Policy. Parents should also be allowed to look at these regulations. Whenever you have a question concerning the rules that govern your child, these should be your primary sources.
7. Get to know your local school board members. Two or three of them are elected each year in overlapping manner to represent taxpaying citizens. They are not elected to represent the superintendent, the teachers or other employees of the District. Their job is to provide the District’s students with the best academic education our taxes can provide and to use those taxes wisely.
Call them whenever you like (within reason of course--between the hours of 9 and 8 is a good rule of thumb) because their job is to represent you. They ran for their position making all sorts of promises, and they owe you the courtesy to talk with you when you have a concern.
Anytime you write a letter to a principal or someone in a higher position, copy the school board members. Your letter will receive much more attention, and you will probably get quicker results. Your letter to the Superintendent or Board President will not automatically be shared with all of the other Board members, so you must send all of the board members copies yourself.
The Board may be sent mail at: Katy Independent School District P. O Box 159 Katy, TX 77492-0159
Board members may also be reached by accessing the District’s web site where there is an email link: http://www.katyisd.org/services/board/members.htm
8. Attend a Work/Study session of the School Board and the follow up Regular Board meeting at least once during the year. The Board meets every month of the year. The Regular School Board meeting is the last Monday of each month at 6:30 P. M. at the KISD Administration Building. The Work/Study session, where discussion, if any, is held will let you see which board members attend, who is able to ask good questions, and who is running our school district. That meeting usually begins at 6:30 PM at the KISD Administration Building. The meetings last from three to four hours. If the length is a problem, grab two friends and each of you go for an hour. Take notes and compare them. You need to see your school board in action.
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Mary McGarr, Katy Citizen Watchdog$ |
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Date: 09/06/2005 |
