Governance
What is the Governance Board?
A Governance Board ensures that our public charter’s organization is operating efficiently and is fulfilling the mission, vision, goals, and educational program of Sparta Montessori Schools, Inc. It also serves as the vehicle for parents and community members to serve their school as either a board member or non-board committee members.
Meetings
Meetings are held during the school year, typically on the first Monday of the month (unless it falls on a Holiday or school day off, then it would move to the next Monday) at Sparta Montessori School and are open to the public. The first meeting is usually held in September and rotates every other month with the last meeting in May. Finally, an additional meeting at the end of the year is held to review Board work and set new action items.
Who is currently serving on the Governance Board?
The board is composed of parents of students, community members, and advisory staff members (non-voting members). The board is to consist of at least 5 voting members with at least two community members and at least three parents. This will facilitate maintaining a healthy balance on the Governance Board and help facilitate community and parent ownership.
Dallis Olson (President)
Tim Smith (Vice President)
Shannon Ontiveros (Treasurer)
Laura Carlson (Secretary)
Larsi Bandriss (Community Member)
Connie Jerome (Community Member)
Dr. Wendy Bernett (Sparta Montessori Principal and Advisory Board Member)
Alicia Gaunky (Administrative Assistant and Advisory Board Member)
What does the Governance Board do?
While the authorizer, the Sparta Board of Education, is by Wisconsin charter school law the Sparta Montessori School’s fiscal agent, the Sparta Montessori Schools, Inc. Governance Board has full autonomy over and shall oversee budgeting of discretionary funds, charter grant funds (when available), fundraising and/or foundation donation amounts; provide hiring and staffing recommendations to the Board of Education; and review of lead administrator performance. The Governance Board will seek to make decisions through consensus, carefully considering the views of parents, students, and community members with input from administration and district staff as necessary.
Want to serve on the Governance Board?
This is a great introduction to serving on a community board and you have the potential to make a great impact on the students at Sparta Montessori Schools.
The Governance Board shall consist of at least two community members and at least three parents. This will facilitate maintaining a healthy balance on the Governance Board and help facilitate community and parent ownership.
- Terms are for a two to three year duration
- Anyone can serve on the board; it is not only for parents of Sparta Montessori students!
- The Sparta Montessori Schools Principal and Sparta Montessori Schools staff members shall serve as advisors (non-voting members) to the Governance Board.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Sparta Montessori Governance Board, please click here to let us know!
Our Mission
Sparta Montessori ensures the growth of the whole child.
Our Vision
Our children are becoming independent thinkers who are positive influences in the community and the world.