Adopted: June 2006
Revised: October 2019
Download 610.1AR - Gifted and Talented Advisory Council
1. Purpose
The purpose of the Gifted and Talented Advisory Council (GTAC) shall be to:
1.1 Ensure active community participation in and enhance community understanding of the district's gifted and talent development program, and
1.2 Provide input to the Curriculum and Instruction Advisory Council (CIAC) and administration on gifted and talent development program plans that support district and board goals, policies and initiatives.
2. Role
2.1 The GTAC shall support the district's gifted and talent development educational program and, as appropriate, provide direction regarding gifted and talent development educational services to the director of teaching and learning.
2.2 The GTAC shall provide the CIAC with input on:
2.2.1 District gifted and talent development educational priorities, in light of financial resources and current best practices in gifted and talented education;
2.2.2 Cost effectiveness of programs and services;
2.2.3 Ways to maintain community relations and communication channels, and
2.2.4 Articulation of gifted and talent development services, kindergarten – grade 12.
2.3 The GTAC shall review and recommend long-range gifted and talent development educational plans.
2.4 The GTAC shall study and provide input on specific gifted and talent development educational issues as identified by the GTAC, the School Board or the administration.
2.5 The GTAC shall ensure that a process is established to evaluate gifted and talent development programming on an ongoing basis.
3. Membership
3.1 To the extent possible, members of the council will include the following:
3.1.1 Four members must be parents or guardians of an identified gifted and talented student (two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school);
3.1.2 One member must be a parent/guardian of an elementary school student;
3.1.3 One member must represent a community business;
3.1.4 Two members must be high school students;
3.1.5 Three members must represent district administrators (one elementary school principal, one middle school principal and one high school administrator);
3.1.6 Two members must represent district classroom teachers (one elementary school and one middle school);
3.1.7 Four members must represent district gifted and talented teachers (two elementary school, one middle school and one high school honors and advance placement);
3.1.8 Three members representing district support staff (such as one integration specialist, one each elementary and secondary curriculum specialist) shall serve as ex-officio members of the GTAC, and
3.1.9 The director of teaching and learning and one School Board member shall serve as ex-officio members of the GTAC.
3.2 Terms of Office
3.2.1 Terms of office shall begin on July 1 and end on June 30.
3.2.2 Terms of office shall last for three years, and shall be staggered with one-third of the positions up each year.
3.2.3 No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms.
3.3 Selection of Members
3.3.1 Openings on the GTAC will be advertised in district publications, area newspapers and on the district website. Applications will be accepted until April 15 for terms beginning July 1. Applicant recruitment may take place after April 15 until as late as June 1 for openings for which there are no applicants meeting the guidelines in section 3.1 above.
3.3.2 After April 15, a subcommittee of the GTAC and the director of teaching and learning, will receive and review all GTAC applications and, based on the membership criteria described above, meet to review and prioritize candidates.
3.4 Filling Unexpired Terms
3.4.1 If less than one year of the term remains, the position will remain open until the next regularly scheduled time for seeking new members (see section 3.3 above).
3.4.2 If more than one year of the term remains, the CIAC and the director of teaching and learning will review the most recent round of applications and make a recommendation for membership to the CIAC for final approval. If no applicant is available to complete that term among the applications, the CIAC and the director of teaching and learning will request applications from people representing the appropriate group(s) and then proceed as described above.
3.5 Officers – At its first meeting each year, the GTAC will elect officers, including a chairperson and a vice chairperson, or co-chairpersons from the membership.
3.5.1 The chairperson or co-chairperson shall preside at all meetings.
3.5.2 The vice chairperson, if the GTAC chooses to elect one, shall perform the duties of the chairperson in the absence of the chairperson.
3.5.3 The director of teaching and learning shall ensure that minutes are taken at each meeting and a copy kept in district records.
3.6 Expectations and Roles of Members
3.6.1 Members are to attend at least 75 percent of GTAC meetings each year.
3.6.2 A member who has not shown suitable commitment (as defined in sections 3.6.1 above) or who isn’t able to fulfill their commitment may resign or may be asked to resign by the GTAC. A member with three consecutive absences who has not contacted the district or the GTAC chairperson or co-chairperson about the absences will be considered to have resigned from the GTAC and will be so notified by the GTAC chairperson or co-chairperson. The vacant position will then be filled in accordance with section 3.4 above.
4. GTAC meetings will be …
4.1 Held at least four times each year, as determined by the council.
4.2 Be publicized in district publications, area newspapers and on the district website.
4.3 Be open to the public, and the GTAC chairperson or co-chairperson may, at his or her discretion, permit members of the public to address the council.