Sheridan Site Council/PTA

Sheridan Elementary has two community boards that help determine and support school priorities. The first is the site council; the second is the Parents/Teachers Association.

Sheridan Elementary Site Council

Mission Statement:

To assure the implementation of Sheridan's Improvement Plan, and monitor the distribution of funds in order to promote academic excellence and equity while building full community participation.

The Sheridan Elementary Site Council is responsible for many aspects of the school, including approving the school budget, designing the school's continuous improvement plan (SCIP), and participating in the school staff hiring process. The Site Council is made up of members of the school community (the principal, teachers, staff, families, students and community members) who work together to improve student achievement, define school goals, shape school policy and procedures, and solve problems.

Sheridan's Site Council also creates partnerships that help bring success to our school.  St. Paul Public Schools have had site councils for about 10 years. By June 30, 2000, all St. Paul Public Schools had site councils.

Training is provided for all Sheridan Site Council members by the St. Paul Public School's Office of School Based Improvement. The training covers such topics as:

1. How to be an effective site council
2. Teamwork and Collaboration
3. Developing Leadership
4. Effective Communication
5. How Schools Operate
6. Planning and Problem Solving

Site Council Member Skills and Time Commitment

Each site council should consist of the building principal, staff, family members, and community members representing the diversity of the school community. The primary requirement of site council members is a desire to help their school succeed and a willingness to attend monthly meetings.

Other requirements include:

• a desire to a make a difference in the education at Sheridan
• a desire to increase family and community involvement
• an ability to work well with groups of people
• an ability to accomplish team-set goals.

Site Council members are elected by their constituent body; i.e., teachers are elected by teachers, parents by parents, etc. Sheridan's Principal, Audrey Bridgeford, also sits on the committee. If you are interested in participating in the Sheridan Site Council, please contact the school at (651) 293-8745.

Sheridan Elementary Parents/Teacher Association

Mission Statement:

To provide excellence and equity in the education opportunities for all students to reach their highest learning potential.

The goal of the PTA is to support the school and to provide additional funding meet its goals. To do this, the PTA sponsors fundraises and helps run special events at Sheridan. This year, the PTA has raised over $11,000 (over $30 per student) for Sheridan. These funds are used to buy books, physical educational supplies, computers, office supplies, and meals for staff on conference nights and workshop days.

In addition to fundraising, the PTA sponsors programs and events like "I Love to read month" and our first annual sock hop. This year, the PTA will buy a book for every Sheridan student as part of "I Love to Read Month" and will provide refreshments at the dance.

This year, the PTA ran a Read-a-thon, a pizza sale, a walk-a-thon, and hosts a recurring Krispy Kreme doughnut sale to raise funds. If you are interested in joining the Sheridan PTA, please call the school at (651) 293-8745 and ask to speak to Mary Holland or Dennis Muller, or email Mrs. Holland or Mr. Muller directly at Mary.Holland@spps.org and Dennis.Muller@spps.org.