Frequently Asked Questions about CPPAC

Frequently Asked Questions about CPPAC

• What does the CPPAC do?
• Who conducts the CPPAC meetings?
• Who attends the CPPAC meetings?
• Who are the members?
• Can members represent more than one school?
• What are a member’s responsibilities?
• A member’s responsibility to the CPPAC
• When are the meetings?
• Where are the meeting held?
• What other information and "rules" should members know?
• Sample Agenda Topics

What does the CPPAC do?
The CPPAC currently has two goals:

1. Create and maintain a means of communication among parents, teachers and administrators.
2. Promote an environment of understanding and common purpose so that the best education may be offered to all children.

In an effort to reach it’s goals. The CPPAC reviews, through monthly meetings, a number of issues that have a "citywide" effect on the Worcester Public School System. The CPPAC does not act as a grievance committee for individual student or school related issues.
Who conducts the CPPAC meetings?The meetings are conducted by the CPPAC’s "Co-chairpersons". The Co-Chairs are elected for two year terms by the CPPAC members. Each year one co-chair is elected. During their first year as an officer of the CPPAC they are known as the "Junior Co-Chairperson" and during their second year they are known as the "Senior Co-Chairperson". The only difference between the two positions is that the Senior Co-Chair is designated as the group’s spokesperson to the press on behalf of the group. The junior Co-Chair is the alternate spokesperson.

Who attends the CPPAC meetings?
CPPAC meetings are open to the public. Every meeting is advertised in the local paper. The meetings are usually attended by a number of representatives from the Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Administration and School Committee members, along with parents, teachers and principals from a number of different schools.
Who are the members?The CPPAC is made up of two (2) parent representatives from each one of the Worcester Public Schools. The parent representatives may be selected by the School Site Council or Parent Organization with the endorsement of the school’s principal. If possible, it is suggested that one representative be a member of the school’s Site Council and the other representative be a member of the Parent Teacher Organization.
Can members represent more than one school?Yes. One member can represent a maximum of two schools. The member must have a child currently enrolled in each one of the schools. This is allowed, but not encouraged due to the fact that, although the member may be representing two schools, they are only allowed one vote. This limits individual school input and may also lead to conflicts on specific items being addressed.
What are a member’s responsibilities?The core responsibility of each member is to represent their school(s) at the CPPAC meetings. In their role as liaison, each member is expected to maintain a line of communication between the CPPAC and their school’s principal, Site Council and most importantly, parents. You should establish these lines of communication with the assistance and approval of your principal.

A member’s responsibility to the CPPAC is:

• Attend all meetings - if you do not represent your school, it’s parents and most importantly it’s students lose input on important issues. If you are unable to attend a meeting, you should notify your principal to allow them the opportunity to schedule an alternate. At a minimum, ensure that your school’s other CPPAC representative is scheduled to attend.
• Be on time - being late is better then not attending at all, but arriving late may cause you to miss an important issue and cause a disruption to the meeting which is already in progress.
• Participate - your input is important to your school and the group as a whole.
• Listen - Giveother members the same courtesy you expect.
• Comply with the rules - a summary of the CPPAC rules is included in this booklet. The "rules" have been extracted from the group’s by-laws and other sources which assist the group in conducting an effective and timely meeting.

When are the meetings?
7-8:30PM

November 1st: Guest speaker Superintendent Dr. Rachel H. Monarrez presenting at Worcester Tech. High School’s Conference Room      
January 10th: Guest speakers Rob Pezzella to introduce Guidepost. Guidepost is conducting a safety and security audit throughout the WPS and will utilize the whole speaking block  Remote ZOOM Meeting Link: 
https://wpi.zoom.us/j/4369093615        Meeting ID: 436 909 3615
March 7th: Guest speaker Brian Allan presenting on the Budget at Worcester Tech. High School’s Conference Room
May 2nd: Guest speaker Superintendent Dr. Rachel H. Monarrez presenting at Forest Grove Middle School Cafeteria
Where are the meeting held?
Meetings are held at the Worcester Art Museum or at Worcester Schools.

What other information and "rules" should members know?

• The structure and specific rules of the CPPAC are documented in the council’s By-laws. A copy of the by-laws can be obtained through your school’s principal or the CPPAC’s recording secretary.
• The CPPAC meetings are conducted using formal parliamentary procedures. Although somewhat more relaxed, the procedures are extracted from "Roberts Rules" of Parliamentary Procedures. A summary of the procedures would reflect:
• Members can only speak when recognized by the chairperson. To be recognized, you should raise your school card (this will be issued to you when you sign in) until called on by the chair.
• A request (to address an issue, take a vote, adjourn the meeting, etc.) is made in the form of a "motion". A second person must agree ("second") the motion and the entire group must discuss it before it can be voted upon.
• The co-chairs are responsible for enforcing the proper procedures. Therefore, it is not required that you memorize these procedures. If, at any time, you feel that you or your request is not being fairly addressed/treated, you may ask for a "Point of Order" at which time the chair must review the rules surrounding it’s actions.
• The CPPAC will break up into smaller groups called subcommittees to address specific issues and/or tasks. Current sub-committees are listed on the CPPAC agenda. For an explanation of the sub-committees, please see one of the co-chairs.

What else?
Not much! Basically, you’ll learn as you go, similar to "on-the-job" training. The important thing is that you come! Your contribution will benefit the group, our school system and most importantly our children.
Sample Agenda Topics

1. Call to order
2. Approval of minutes of preceding meeting
3. Sub-Committee meetings - Twenty minutes
4. Guest speaker / Presentation - Thirty minutes
5. Correspondence
6. Sub-Committee reports - Thirty minutes
7. Old Business
8. New Business
9. Additional Business
10. Next meeting date
11. Adjournment