Vocational education must develop students for the world of work. Therefore, the programs developed must be an integral part of the community in which they exist and must reflect the day-to-day occupational life of the community. The most effective formal means of assuring that vocational programs are an integral part of the community is through the use of Advisory and Craft Committees. Advisory Council and Craft Committees composed of representatives of the community can provide a means of determining not only the needs for vocational programs but also the direction which programs should take. Advisory Council and Craft Committees can also provide a channel through which the Preston County Educational Center can communicate its needs and abilities to the general public, organizations, business, industry, and agriculture.
The Administrative Advisory Council is a comprehensive type of committee consisting of a representative group of lay people who discuss the general problems of vocational-technical education in a strictly advisory capacity. The Advisory Council has neither legislative nor administrative authorities.
Each Craft Committee is an advisory group for each specific program. The term "craft" is used to identify an occupational area for which training is being offered.
Selection and Confirmation Committee
This committee is composed of the following members:
2. The Administrator of the Preston County Educational Center
3. The Teacher or Teachers of a Particular Craft Area
4. The Chairperson of the-Administrative Advisory Council
5. The Assistant Chairperson of the Administrative Advisory Council, who will act as Chairperson of the committee.
This committee shall have the authority to suggest or recommend changes in membership in order to bring about more expertise and wide geographic distribution. The committee will meet prior to September 1 to perform its duties for the coming year. It will serve from October to October, reorganizing after the first meeting of the Administrative Advisory Council each year.
A complete listing of all committee members will be kept in the Preston County Educational Center Administrator's office and in the Vocational Director's office. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Administrative Advisory Council to keep this list up-to-date.
Selection of Members and Committee Structure
The Administrative Advisory Council shall be composed of members of the categories listed on Page 1a.
Members presently serving on the Advisory Council shall continue to serve until they desire to withdraw their membership from said Council. New members, except those representatives from craft committees and ex officio members, shall be appointed by the Selection and Confirmation Committee for a term of three years. They may be appointed to a second term at the discretion of the committee.
The Secondary and Elementary Principals organizations shall each elect a representative at the time they reorganize each year.
Other individuals serving in an ex officio capacity would be legislators serving this area, the County Superintendent of Schools, the Assistant Superintendent of Schools, the Director of Vocational Education, the Administrator and Assistant Administrator of the Preston County Educational Center, and the Job Placement Coordinator.
At the beginning of each year, each Craft Committee will select one member to serve on the Administrative Advisory Council for the ensuing year.
Two Senior Preston County Educational Center students will be selected to serve as regular members of the said Council for a one-year term. They will be elected by the morning and afternoon student bodies.
The Chairperson of the Administrative Advisory Council shall be elected by the Council to serve a one-year term and be eligible to succeed to a second one-year term. The chairperson should:
2. appoint special committees which may include persons other than committee members, but chaired by a committee member.
The Council shall also elect a Vice-Chairperson to serve a one-year term and be eligible to a second one-year term.
The Preston County Educational Center shall serve as Secretary of the Administrative Advisory Council. The Director and the Administrator shall assist the Chairperson in preparing the agenda for each meeting. The Secretary shall prepare the minutes of each meeting and submit them to each member of the Advisory Council.
Membership
The number of members on the Administrative Advisory Council shall be determined by the needs of the Council. In case of a vacancy in the Craft Committee Category, the replacement shall be made by the committee involved for the remainder of the year.
In all other categories, except ex officio members, the vacancy shall be filled by the Selection and Confirmation Committee for a three-year term.
Meetings
The Advisory Council shall have a minimum of three meetings per year, the first being held by October 21 of each year, at which time reorganization shall take place. The Chairperson and the Secretary' shall be responsible for scheduling the meetings. One meeting shall be held during the summer, and the Director or Administrator shall be responsible for presenting the annual report at this time. The Secretary shall be responsible for sending a copy of the minutes to absent members.
Time and Place of Meetings
The Advisory Council shall normally meet at the Preston County Educational Center. The Secretary shall notify Council members two weeks in advance as to time and place of meetings.
Agenda
The Secretary and Chairperson of the Administrative Advisory Council shall prepare and provide an agenda for each committee member at least one week prior to the meeting.
Recommendations
Any recommendations of the Administrative Advisory Council should be prepared in writing and submitted to the appropriate persons and Board by January 30 of each year. These recommendations should be included in the annual report prepared by the Council.
Selection
Craft committee members shall be designated as stated under the duties of the Selection and Confirmation Committee on Page 2. Any vacancies shall be filled by the request of teacher or teachers with the approval of the Selection and Confirmation Committee.
Present members may continue to serve until they request a withdrawal of his or her name from said committee membership. New members shall serve for a three-year term.
Each area of instruction shall elect two students, one from the morning and one from the afternoon class sections, to serve on the respective craft committee.
At the end of the school term, all teachers shall carefully check attendance committee members. Those who have not attended any meetings should be contacted as to their wishes for membership the following year.
Membership
The number of members on a Craft Committee shall be determined by the needs of the committee.
Qualifications
Persons selected to the Administrative Advisory Council or Craft Committees should be:
2. interested in that particular field.
3. willing to contribute to the effectiveness of the committee and have the time to do this.
4. able to work with other members on the committee without undesirable conflict.
5. of good moral and ethical character, neither exploiting the committee nor students for their own benefit.
The Chairperson of the Craft Committee shall be elected by the committee for a one-year term and be permitted to succeed himself or herself.
Administrative Advisory Council Representative
The Craft Committee shall elect one person to serve as a representative to the Administrative Advisory Council. This individual may be the chairperson or any person serving on said Craft Committee.
Secretary
The vocational instructor shall serve as Secretary of the Craft Committee. The instructor shall also assist the Chairperson in preparing the agenda for each meeting and preparing the minutes which shall be submitted to each member of the Craft Committee, the Director, and the Administrator of the Preston County Educational Center.
Role of the Vocational Teacher
It shall be the duty of the vocational teacher to recommend names to the Selection and Confirmation Committee for the make-up of the Craft Committee in their respective area and to have the Craft Committee organized by September 21 of each year.
Each vocational instructor shall serve as the school's representative on the respective Craft Committee for his or her area of instruction. The teacher's presence shall provide the liaison between the committee and the school. Where there is more than one teacher in an area, a designated teacher must serve as Secretary. The Secretary shall serve on a rotating basis. All teachers are expected to attend all Craft Committee meetings and take an active part.
The responsibilities of the instructor shall be:
2. to serve the committee as its Secretary.
3. to serve as the interim Chairperson until the committee is organized.
4. to assist the Chairperson in preparing the agenda for each meeting.
5. to prepare the minutes of each meeting and distribute them to the members of the County Vocational Director and the Administrator of the Preston County Educational Center.
6. to assist the committee in the development of its plan of work.
7. to be professional in the role as a teacher and liaison representative of the school.
8. to keep the welfare of the school and the committee in perspective as the work of the committee progresses.
The Craft Committee shall have a minimum of four meetings per year. Four regular planned meetings will be scheduled by the Chairperson and the Secretary of each committee. Special meetings may be called at the request of the committee members, teachers or the Administrative Advisory Council. The Secretary shall be responsible for sending a copy of the minutes to absent members.
Time and Place of Meetings
The Craft Committees shall meet in the classroom, laboratory, or shop area for each vocational program. The Secretary shall notify committee members as to the time and location of each meeting at least two weeks in advance of each meeting.
Agenda
The. Secretary and the Chairperson of each committee shall prepare and provide an agenda for each committee member at least one week prior to the meeting.
Some of the areas in which the Administrative Advisory Council and the Craft Committees may provide advice and assistance are:
2. providing occupational information.
3. developing public information programs.
4. making community surveys.
5. securing training stations for cooperative education students.
6. determining and verifying need for training.
7. reviewing past accomplishments of the Center and forecasting trends affecting training and employment.
8. planning facilities and establishing standards for classrooms and laboratories.
9. establishing standards for selecting equipment and instructional materials.
10. securing donations of equipment and materials.
* 11. providing assistance in job placement of students.
12. assisting in the recruitment of teachers.
13. assisting in the promotion of the passage of State and Federal legislation for vocational education.
14. developing criteria for evaluating vocational programs.
*This is one of the most and necessary functions. Contributions to this area will be appreciated.
The efficient operation of this committee system will greatly contribute to helping keep pace in training needs and our local requirements for employment. It shall be the responsibility of the Vocational Director to see that the guidelines written in this policy area are carried out by those responsible.
LEGAL REFERENCE:
ADOPTED: June 19, 1984