Leadership Council
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Leadership Council is the overarching decision-making body of Topanga Elementary, and parents hold 3 out of 10 council seats. All parents are invited to attend, and anyone can sign up at the beginning of the meeting to request five minutes for public comment. Committee meetings usually meet one week prior to Leadership (please check school calendar for exact date - location can be confirmed with Principal Gediman) and are organized around the following topics: Safety, Curriculum, Technology, Gardening, Planning, Personnel and Budget. An agenda for each Leadership meeting is posted 72 hours prior on this page.
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What is the Leadership Council?
The Los Angeles Unified School Board is the governing body for TECS. The Leadership Council is the school's site decision-making body. The Council's focus is to improve the quality of education, enhance the learning experience of each student, and promote overall student achievement. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: some staff development, student discipline guidelines within LAUSD policy, schedule of school activities and events, allocation of categorical block grant, setting policies and procedures necessary to achieve the goals of TECS within the authority of the Local District Superintendent and LAUSD Board of Education.  The Leadership Council's actions and decisions shall be bound by the decisions of the Local District Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School Board, LAUSD policies and procedures and State laws applicable to charter schools. The Charter School will comply with the District policy related to Charter Schools, as it may be changed from time to time.

Who can serve on the Leadership Council?
The ten-member council includes members who represent all stakeholders: administrator, teachers, classified (non certificated staff), parents (including legal guardians), and community members. 50% of the council is comprised of the UTLA chapter chair (standing position) and 4 elected certificated teachers. The other 50% are the school’s principal (standing position), 1 elected classified staff representative and 3 elected parent/community representatives. There are two alternate teachers and one alternate parent representative. Members of the Leadership Council and any other committees of the school shall comply with federal and state laws, LAUSD Charter School polices and regulations and District policies regarding ethics and conflicts of interest.

When are the elections for Leadership Council?
Elections to select the certificated and classified representatives to serve on the Leadership Council shall be held prior to the end of the second week of October in the particular academic year by a vote of their peers. The election of the parent community representatives to serve on the Leadership Council shall be held at the TECS Back-To-School night. Each family will cast its vote, place its ballot in the ballot box. The candidate with the most votes shall be the elected parent constituency representative and the candidate with the second most votes shall be named as alternate, for the same two-year term. Election results will be communicated to those involved in the election and the school community.

When does the Leadership Council Meet? 
The Council holds regularly monthly meetings, with additional meetings scheduled as necessary. Six members from the Leadership Council with each stakeholder group represented constitute a quorum. A meeting will be rescheduled in the absence of a quorum. All Leadership Council and committee meetings are open to the public.  Any stakeholder may request that an item to be placed on the agenda by putting a note in the "Agenda Box" which is located in the school office for review by council members when creating the agenda.
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Leadership Council Committees
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Role of Committees
The work of the Leadership Council is accomplished through the activities, reports, and recommendations of its various committees. Issues arising before the Leadership Council normally will be referred to the appropriate committee for consideration and the formulation of recommendations and resolutions that shall be presented in writing to the Leadership Council for final approval. No committee may exercise the authority of the Leadership Council.

Standing and Special Committees

Standing committees include:
  • Personnel Committee — with Administrator and UTLA
  • Curriculum Committee
  • Budget Committee — with Administrator and UTLA
  • Safety and Facilities Committee
  • Technology / Library Committee
  • Long Range Planning
  • Green Team (Gardening)
  • Committee Membership

For more information, Download Our Charter.
Questions / Feedback

2018-2019 Leadership Council
Michelle Butler
Summer Scott-Sexton
Andrea Shreeman

Parent Representative Alternates
Jessica Dirschel
Jesse Welch

Please join us at Committee or Leadership Council meetings — dates and times are listed on the school calendar and announced in the Friday Focus. 

October 9th 
November 13th
December 11th
January 15th
Feb 19th
March 12th
April 23rd
May 21st
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All meetings are held @1:45pm in Room 8

Agendas
Minutes