Local School Improvement Councils (LSIC) are required per W.Va. Code § 18-5A-2. These councils exist at each public school in West Virginia. Membership of the LSIC is comprised of teachers, service personnel, bus drivers, parents, business and community representatives. An election occurs annually for membership. The LSIC is directly involved with the operation of the local school in many ways.
The LSIC reviews discipline data and procedures yearly and submits written recommendations to the local school board. They encourage involvement of the school community with the school operation through regular LSIC meetings and collaboration. They support local initiative for school improvement by being directly involved with the strategic planning and innovative ideas. A direct link with the local school board occurs through an annual meeting at which all school aspects inclusive of academics, athletics, discipline, school climate, facilities, needs, improvement and recommendations are presented and discussed.
On This page
Tips For Effective Council Operation
Best Practices
- Participate and attend meetings regularly.
- Create a positive and productive agenda.
- Council members should have the opportunity to suggest agenda items at each meeting. The Local School Improvement Council (LSIC) Chair should clarify what is expected of the council for each item on the meeting’s agenda.
- Keep detailed minutes of each council meeting and make them available to the public on the school’s website.
- Council members need background information concerning laws, policies, and regulations and access to the expertise and experience of central office personnel.
- Council members should recognize their responsibility to propose suggestions for improving the operation of the school.
- Councils should set both long-term and short-term goals, both of which are necessary to bring about substantial school improvement.
- Monitoring progress continuously is necessary for councils to evaluate their efforts and progress toward attainment of goals.
Meeting Participation
- Each council member is responsible for doing his/her part to make meetings productive.
- Between meetings, council members should study the issues and generate practical solutions to problems.
- During meetings, council members should represent their constituents, yet set aside self or constituent-group interests that interfere with council goals.
- Council members need to listen with open minds and make thoughtful, well-informed decisions.
- Attend to others while they are voicing their opinions, sampling interest, or exploring commitments to proposals. Avoid engaging in side conversations, using cell phones, or shuffling papers while someone is speaking. Nonverbal expressions can give away how you really feel about a person or an idea. Encourage other members to participate and seek the viewpoints of others.
- All council members need to stick to the meeting agenda. Members should present their viewpoints briefly and allow the meeting to move from one agenda item to the next. Avoid discussing irrelevant issues. Setting time limits for the discussion of each item may be helpful.
Meeting Plans
- Agendas ‒ Most councils make written agendas available to council members and other attendees for each meeting.
- Minutes ‒ Minutes are taken at every meeting to serve as an official record of discussions and decisions. Minutes from previous meetings may be distributed to council members at or before the next meeting. All minutes shall be made available to the public on the school’s website and upon written request made to the school’s principal or council chair.
- Correspondence/Announcements ‒ Most councils place correspondence as an agenda item at the beginning of the meeting. Correspondence may include information such as announcements from the central office, reports from foundations, and requests for proposals.
- Reports ‒ Reports are a way to present information. A principal’s report offers information about school programs and activities. The LSIC shall ensure that a report of concerns, suggestions, and points raised is produced from the Stakeholder Meeting, made available on the school’s website, and forwarded to both the county board and the Office of Accountability at the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE). The county board shall also post the report on its website.
- Committees ‒ Committees are a means of getting work done efficiently. Committee members meet outside of regular council meeting times. They investigate issues, read research, compile their findings, and report recommendations at the regular council meeting. Committees may include members who are not on the council.
- Seating Patterns and Meeting Places ‒ Generally, council members sit together at tables that permit them to see and hear each other. Many councils arrange their seats so that audience members can see and hear them. The room should be comfortable and accommodate the size of the audience.
- Public Participation ‒ Most councils have an official place on the agenda to hear the concerns of the people and may invite presentations from non-members.
Problem-Solving Process
- Assess Improvement Needs ‒ This step focuses on gathering data to identify areas in need of improvement.
- Establish Priorities ‒ After needs assessment results have been analyzed and reported, the improvement team should set priorities by ranking needs according to what must be accomplished.
- Develop School Improvement Plans ‒ The team should write an improvement plan for each improvement goal or objective. The plan should specify activities and a timeline to accomplish each objective.
- Identify Resources and Support Needs ‒ To implement the improvement plans, support from within and outside the district may be needed.
- Create a Timeline for Improvement Efforts ‒ Timelines provide targets to achieve. However, realistic schedules must be established to avoid frustration and discouragement.
- Implement the Improvement Plan ‒ Preparing to implement improvement plans involves creating awareness, setting expectations, assigning roles and responsibilities, and making logistical arrangements.
- Monitor and Evaluate Progress ‒ This step determines if the plans implemented attained the improvement objectives. Evaluation requires careful collection of implementation data, clearly defined student outcome measures, and a willingness to impartially assess the success of the improvement plans.
For a printable version of this information, download the Tips for Effective Council Operation (PDF)
Parent and Community Leaders’ Roles in LSICs
Parents and community leaders are the voice of the community’s education stakeholders.
Local School Improvement Councils (LSICs) give parents the opportunity to be involved in their child’s educational process and work alongside the principal, teachers, service personnel, and community to improve student and school performance and progress.
LSICs give parents and community leaders the opportunity to be involved in the school’s vision for excellence and the school strategic improvement process.
Parents elect three fellow parents, guardians, or custodians of students enrolled at the school to serve as voting members of the LSIC for a two-year term.
The principal will appoint three at-large members of the community, one of whom resides in the school’s attendance area and at least one of whom represents business or industry, who will serve a one-year term.
Voting members may be elected as the chair of the LSIC and/or two members to help set the agenda for each meeting. The chair will serve a one-year term. The chair is responsible for notifying each member in writing five business days in advance of any council meeting.
Voting members complete training in the role and governance of LSICs provided by the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE).
All parents, guardians, or custodians of students enrolled in the school and all community members may be non-voting members of the LSIC and attend all meetings.
Parents, guardians, custodians, and community members engage in an annual Stakeholder Meeting regarding the school’s academic performance. This is an opportunity for attendees to make specific suggestions on how to address issues which are seen to affect the school’s academic performance which may include but are not limited to:
- parent and community involvement,
- the learning environment,
- student engagement,
- attendance,
- behaviors,
- supports for at-risk students,
- curricular offerings,
- resources, and
- the capacity for school improvement.
For a printable version of this information, download the Parent and Community Leaders’ Roles in LSICs (PDF)
Guidance for LSICs Bylaws and Meeting Procedures
Per WVBE Policy 2322, Section 10.7e, each Local School Improvement Council (LSIC) may adopt a set of bylaws or meeting procedures that are consistent with state and local policy and W. Va. Code. These are individual to each LSIC and should be designed to support members in conducting effective meetings.
In developing bylaws or meeting procedures, members may consider using the suggested content:
- Statement of Purpose
- Election and Roles of Members and Chair
- Membership Responsibilities
- Attendance
- Productive Engagement
- Meeting Guidelines
- Courtesies and Norms
- Robert’s Rules of Order
- Seating Patterns and Meeting Place
- Procedures for Goal Setting and Progress Monitoring
- Agendas
- Creation
- Publication and Distribution
- Minutes
- Recording
- Publication and Distribution
- Supports Next Agenda
- Reports
- Creation
- Publication and Distribution
- Committees
- Purpose
- Membership
- Procedure for Amending Bylaws
For a printable version of this information, download the Guidance for LSICs Bylaws and Meeting Procedures (PDF)
LSIC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The West Virginia legislature mandated the public schools establish councils to collaborate with administrators and faculty to promote innovations and improvements in the teaching and learning environment in the schools. LSICs are designed to represent the voice of the community’s education stakeholders.
The LSIC shall help develop and promote the school’s and county’s vision for excellence by being catalysts for innovation and encouraging parent, family, business, and community involvement in the school and county strategic improvement process.
Legislative code can be found at https://code.wvlegislature.gov/.
Local School Improvement Councils serve an integral role in school governance through shared decision making. The membership is designed to draw upon the expertise and insight of stakeholders from various backgrounds to define the strengths and weaknesses of a school and to develop solutions to improve education at the school. The LSIC is responsible for addressing complex issues and fostering changes that may drastically alter the curriculum, instruction, or administration of the school. Local School Improvement Councils should critically examine their school’s needs and develop comprehensive improvement plans. The LSIC efforts are supported by the legislation which provides a waiver process by which Councils may propose to change local and/or state board policies.
The principal will arrange for the LSlC member elections to be held prior to September 15 each school year and will give notice of the elections at least one week prior to the elections being held. To the extent practicable, all elections to select council members shall be held within the same week.
The Local School Improvement Council is comprised of:
- The principal, who serves as an ex officio member of the council and is entitled to vote;
- Three teachers elected by the faculty senate of the school that serve a two-year term;
- Two service persons elected by the service personnel employed at the school that serve a two-year term, one of whom may be a bus operator who transports students enrolled at the school;
- Three parents, guardians, or custodians of students enrolled at the school elected by the parents, guardians, or custodians of students enrolled at the school in such a manner as may be determined by the principal. Under no circumstances may a parent member of a school’s council be employed at that school in any capacity. Parents serve a two-year term;
- Three at-large members appointed by the principal, at least one of whom resides in the school’s attendance area and at least one of whom represents business or industry, neither of whom is eligible for membership under any of the other elected classes of members. The at-large members serve a one-year term;
- In the case of CTE schools, comprehensive middle schools, and comprehensive high schools, the CTE director or principal, as applicable, shall appoint up to four additional members from any one or more of the following categories: employer, employer-sponsored training program, apprenticeship program, and/or postsecondary education;
- In the case of a school with students in grade seven or higher, the student body president or other student in grade seven or higher elected by the student body in those grades.
Nothing prohibits expanding the membership of LSICs to include non-voting members or requesting other stakeholders to participate in meetings of the LSIC.
The school principal shall arrange for the election of members to the LSIC to be held prior to September 15 of each school year and shall give notice of the elections at least one week prior to the elections being held. All elections to select council members shall be held within the same week, to the extent practicable.
After the election of council members, and no later than October 1 of each school year, the principal will convene an organizational meeting of the Local School Improvement Council. The principal must notify each member by written or electronic means at least five business days in advance of this organizational meeting. At this meeting, a chair and two members to assist the chair in setting the agenda and taking minutes for each meeting will be elected, and the principal shall provide a copy of the current applicable sections of W. Va. Code 18-5A-2, any West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to the operation of these councils, and any information developed by the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) on the operation and powers of LSICs and their important role in improving student and school performance and progress.
The LSIC must meet every nine weeks or equivalent grading period, at the call of the chair, or by petition of three-fourths of its members.
In addition to the organizational meeting conducted by the principal, all LSICs must conduct at least one meeting annually to engage stakeholders in a positive and interactive dialogue regarding the school’s academic performance and standing as determined by measures adopted by the WVBE. Attendees have the opportunity to make specific suggestions on how to address issues affecting the school’s performance.
This may include topics such as parent and community involvement, the learning environment, student engagement, attendance, behaviors, supports for at-risk students, curricular offerings, resources, and school improvement. This meeting will be announced by the chair at least ten business days before. The council shall ensure that a report of concerns, suggestions, and points raised during this meeting is produced and made available on the school’s website and forwarded to the County Board of Education Members (CBEM) and the WVDE. The county board shall also post this report on its website.
Yes. All LSIC meetings must be open to the public in compliance with the provisions of the Open Governmental Proceedings Act (W. Va. Code §6-9A-2).
Councils may propose alternatives to the operation of the school based on the school’s needs and circumstances by requesting a waiver of rules, policies, interpretations, and statutes. WVBE Policy 2322 provides guidance on the procedure for requesting waivers. It can be accessed at http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies/.
W. Va. Code §18-5A-2 (j) states that any and all matters which may fall within the scope of both the school improvement council and the school curriculum teams authorized in §18-5A-6, the school curriculum teams have jurisdiction. Therefore, the LSIC would have to submit the requested waiver to the appropriate body (e.g., local board of education, state board of education).
County Boards of Education must meet at least annually with the LSIC of each school deemed to be low performing under the West Virginia Accountability System in accordance with W. Va. Code §18-5-14. At any such meeting, the principal and the LSIC chair shall be prepared to address the dialogue at its meeting or meetings to give all stakeholders an opportunity to make specific suggestions to address issues which are seen to affect the school’s academic performance and any other matters that may be requested by the county board as specified in the meeting agenda provided to the council.
Training will be available for principals, county boards, and others the state board determines appropriate, upon employment and every three years thereafter.
The council shall ensure that minutes are taken at every meeting and made available to the public on the school’s website and upon written request to the school’s principal or council chair.
For a printable version of this information, download the LSIC FAQs (pdf)
LSIC Stakeholder Meeting FAQs
This required meeting, sometimes referred to as the Town Hall Meeting, is intended to be an opportunity for attendees to make specific suggestions on how to address issues which are seen to affect the school’s academic performance.
West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) Policy 2322 mandates that each LSIC shall conduct at least one meeting to engage parents, students, employees, business partners, and other interested parties in a positive and interactive dialogue regarding the school’s academic performance and standing as determined by measures adopted by the WVBE.
Any issue which is seen to affect the school’s academic performance should be discussed at this meeting. This may include but is not limited to: parent and community involvement, the learning environment, student engagement, attendance, behaviors, supports for at-risk students, curricular offerings, resources, and the capacity for school improvement.
WVBE Policy 2322 provides that the council shall announce any such meetings ten business days in advance. Best practice would include notification by multiple means such as digital signage, newsletters, phone calls, email, social media, and other forms of communication.
The LSIC shall ensure that a report of concerns, suggestions, and points raised during the meeting is produced. The principal will make the report available on the school’s website and forward it to the Office of Accountability at the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE). The county board shall also post each school’s report on its website.
For a printable version of this information, download the LSIC Stakeholder Meetings FAQ (pdf)
Principal’s LSIC Toolkit
- Operating Procedures
- Agenda
- Minutes
- Election Guide
- Nomination Form
- Parent Ballot
- 2024-2025 LSIC Calendar
- Planning Your LSIC Organizational Meeting
- Stakeholder Meeting Report Template
- Guidance for Stakeholder Meeting Report
Submit the completed LSIC Annual Meeting Report to WVDE by using the LSIC Stakeholder Meeting Submission Form
Additional Resources
Disclaimer
This page serves only as a resource and is not a substitute for the full version of W.Va. § 18-5A-2.