Nominations For NHS Principal’s Advisory Council

Now Being Accepted

By Eliza Hallabeck

In an ongoing effort to make decisions at Newtown High School more transparent, NHS Principal Charles Dumais said this week that nominations from the community are being welcomed for placement on a recently planned Principal’s Advisory Council.

“It would advise the principal on things that involve the school,” said Mr Dumais.

The council was created by a steering committee of the School Improvement Team. Issues the Principal’s Advisory Council would advise the principal on would include academic matters, civic matters, and social matters of Newtown High School, according to a release requesting nominations.

Self-nominations and nominations for others are welcome for the position, and can be emailed to Mr Dumais at DumaisC@newtown.k12.ct.us.

Member openings will include five teachers, one noncertified staff member, one assistant principal, four students, two parents, and three members of the community. Nominations must be made before September 15. Applicants for the school employee positions must have been a full-time member of the Newtown staff for at least one full year.

An example of a schoolwide issue, as provided by Mr Dumais, would be the recent implementation of a new student information system, called PowerSchool, which sends emails out to school community members.

“We are looking for parents and students, teachers and community members to be involved,” said Mr Dumais.

Each member on the council, once elected, would serve for one year. At the conclusion of the first year staggered and multiyear terms will be considered.

The council will meet a minimum of seven times during the academic year, with dates to be determined.

The nomination process for the different positions differ. For the faculty and staff positions, the nominations will close on October 1, and the election will be conducted by ballot from the School Improvement Team’s nominating committee for the Principal’s Advisory Council.

For the student nominations, the faculty and staff will nominate the students who would be an asset once on the council. According to the steering committee for the Principal’s Advisory Council, the goal is to have a cross section of the student body represented.

A schoolwide election will be held during homeroom to elect the student members. An election process for the community nominations will be devised depending on the number of nominations.