SC What we do!

 
WES School Committee
What we do!
 

In 1993, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts reformed the public education system in part to clarify the responsibilities and roles of school committees, superintendents, special education directors and principals. One of the primary concepts articulated by this act was that a local school committee has no direct authority over the day to day operation of a school. This is the responsibility of the superintendent and their staff.
 
The primary responsibilities of the school committee are to hire the superintendent, create the policies that are used to guide the operation of the Williamstown Elementary School, and create the annual budget.
 
The monthly meetings of the Williamstown School Committee usually are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month in the Selectmen's Room of the Williamstown Municipal Building at 7:00 pm.
 
(Click here to go to the Town of Williamstown Meeting Schedule)
OPENS IN NEW WINDOW!
  
During a meeting, the superintendent reports on many aspects of the school including the educational program, the budget, the infrastructure of the school, and school personnel. The school committee also listens to the concerns of any community member who uses the Public Comment portion of the meeting agenda to address the committee.
   
 
School Committee Functions
 

The Williamstown School Committee operates in accordance with the Massachusetts General Law (M.G.L.) Chapters 71 and 41, which delegate its authority, and in accordance with any applicable provisions of the Williamstown by-laws and charter. The School Committee shall adopt measures to govern itself and conduct public meetings in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L.The School Committee has oversight of and responsibility for the school district. The major areas of the School Committee’s responsibility are:


          Policy

  • Establish and periodically review educational goals and policies for the district, consistent with the requirements of law and the statewide goals and standards established by the Board of Education.


        Finance

  • Review and approve an annual budget for public education in the district according to a process and timeline developed with the superintendent.
  • Seek to obtain sufficient funding to support its programs from all available sources.
  • Oversee the management of the annual school budget.



        Staffing

  • Appoint and evaluate the superintendent
  • Appoint the school business administrator, administrator of special education, registered nurses (unless employees of the Board of Health), and legal counsel, upon recommendation of the superintendent.
  • Set compensation for the superintendent and overall compensation limits for school business administrator, administrator of special education, registered nurses, legal counsel, principal, and other administrators.


        Collective Bargaining

  • Act as employer of school employees for collective bargaining purposes.
  • Designate a negotiator or negotiating team.
  • Receive advice from superintendent about educational consequences of bargaining positions.
  • Additional School Committee responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
  • Adopt a professional development plan for all principals, teachers and other professional staff employed by the distric.
  • Review and approve the annual School Improvement Plan developed by the School Governance Council.
  • Engage in advocacy on behalf of students and their schools and promote the benefits of a public school system to the community.
  • Approve major adoption or revision of curriculum and textbooks upon recommendation of the superintendent.
  • Adopt a school calendar on an annual basis.