By-Laws

Xenos Christian Schools exist to provide students with a program of academic excellence and biblical truth, while promoting development of Christian values in a loving environment.

Article 1. Name, Scope, and Number of Committees

The Xenos Christian Schools Local Professional Development Committee (LPDC) is hereby established as the name of the entity required by Senate Bill 230. The Committee shall be district-wide in scope and shall be the only committee of its type authorized to operate within the district.

Article 2. Aims and Purposes

The purpose of the XCS LPDC is to determine whether course work and other professional development activities completed by educators for the renewal of certificates/licenses meets the requirements of the established standards. The approval of the LPDC is required and noted on the Ohio Department of Education prescribed form at the initiation of the certificate or license renewal process.

The LPDC does not issue certificates or licenses; that authority is solely reserved for the Ohio Department of Education. The established standards will enable teachers to receive credit for study, work, or classes related to classroom needs. The LPDC will also ensure that the course work teachers take will help accomplish the goals of XCS. In addition, the LPDC guides the development of Individual Professional Development Plans (IPDP).

In the discharge of its duties, the committee will:

1. Promote the alignment of professional growth with individual, student, building and district needs and goals;
2. Guide the development of IPDPs;
3. Validate the skills and knowledge gained through educator professional development by the approval and issuance of Continuing Education Units within the district.
4. Emphasize increased student learning and achievement and the maximization of each educator's potential as professional development priorities;

Article 3. Membership, Qualifications, Training, Compensation.

The membership of the committee, the selection of members, and the terms of office are established in accordance with Revised Code Section 3319.22

• Minimum of 5 members
• The scope of the committee encompasses Xenos Christian Schools (district); including Calumet Christian School, Xenos Christian School and Harambee Christian School.
• Terms shall be at least one year.
• Vacancies will be filled by the Superintendent.
• Frequency, time, & place of meetings shall be decided by the LPDC.

The Local Professional Development Committee shall consist of a minimum of five (5) members. A majority of members shall be teachers who shall be selected by the district Superintendent. Teacher membership may be representative of primary (preschool - 2), intermediate (3-5), middle school (6-8), special interest, and/or special education. The remaining members may be a combination of administrators from the central district office and/or from the building level who shall be selected or appointed by the Superintendent.

Each LPDC member will participate in professional development designed to prepare them for their role within the District LPDC. The LPDC member as part of his/her own Individual Professional Development Plan may legitimately use this professional development. The district will work to educate LPDC members each year about the standards of Senate Bill 230 and licensure, effective committee and review skills, team building, decision-making, quality professional development criteria, etc. Committee members shall be compensated through release time or stipends for their service as committee members to a maximum of ten (10) days. The Superintendent shall address administrative and teacher member vacancies and shall designate replacement members as necessary.

Article 4. Roles and Terms of Office.

The District LPDC shall consist of the following roles and corresponding terms of office:

• The Chairperson shall be elected by a written majority vote of the LPDC. Anyone interested in serving as Chairperson may self-nominate. The Chairperson shall be elected for a two-year term, with the "term" to run from September to September.

The duties of the Chairperson shall include:

a) Preside at all LPDC meetings;

b) Establish a meeting calendar, call all meetings, and set all agendas;

c) Ensure that LPDC and IPDP processes and procedures are followed;

d) Serve as the appeals process contact and liaison;

e) Serve as one of the LPDC reviewers of IPDPs used for certificate/license renewals;

f) Suggest training needs of LPDC members;

g) Sign the necessary cover sheet for certificate/license renewals as required by the Ohio Department of Education.

• The Secretary/Recorder shall be elected by a written majority vote of the LPDC. The Secretary/Recorder shall be elected for a one-year term. A term shall run from September to September.

  The duties of the Secretary /Recorder will include:

  a) Keep accurate minutes of the LPDC meetings;

  b) Send minutes and agendas to LPDC members at least 48 hours in advance of succeeding meetings;

  c) Serve as a general communications liaison with the staff,

  d) Be responsible for all necessary correspondence;

  e) Keep LPDC membership records up-to-date and keep a mailing list of all members including names, school and home addresses, telephone numbers etc.;

  f) Maintain a notebook or easily accessible electronic record of all committee activities;

  g) Serve, as one of the LPDC reviewers of IPDPs used for certificate/license renewals;

  h) Suggest training needs of LPDC members.

• The remaining committee members in addition to the Chairperson(s) and the Secretary/Recorder will:

  a) Elect one of their members by voice vote to act in the absence of the Chair(s);

  b) Serve as staff information contact persons;

  c) Serve as reviewers of IPDPs for certificate/license renewals;

  d) Suggest necessary professional growth needs for committee members.

Article 5. Meetings

The District Local Professional Development Committee members shall determine the frequency, time, and place of meetings. The LPDC will publish an annual calendar of LPDC meeting dates and submission deadlines to certified employees no later than September 1 of each school year.

Article 6. IPDP Guidelines, Standards for Course Work , Equivalent Activities Decision-Making, and Appeals.

Standards for Course Work

The standards for XCS are outlined in the school's Philosophy and Vision statement. For submission to the LPDC, educators need to use the XCS Individual Professional Plan Educator Profile, and read the document entitled LPDC Approved Continuing Education Units. The guidelines for submission to the LPDC are outlined in the document entitled Guidelines for submission of an IPDP.

IPDP Guidelines (IPDP development process)

Beginning with the 1998-1999 school year, all district educators who are not working under a permanent certificate will prepare an Individual Professional Development Plan to address their personal, professional, and assignment goals as they relate to students, grade level and assignment, building, district, regional and our state expectations for performance. Educators will complete this IPDP on the prescribed forms and in the prescribed manner for the period of time remaining on any provisional or professional certificate(s)/license(s). If the IPDP is reviewed by the LPDC and pre-approved, the educator may work towards the completion of identified goals throughout the life of the IPDP. The educator should maintain a log of professional growth activities for his/her own review and for later post-approval by the LPDC prior to the time of the educator's renewal. The educator should seek approval for any change in the IPDP during its life prior to implementing the change. It is likewise the responsibility of the educator to maintain a personal record of all locally approved CEU's and university transcripts.

If the IPDP is rejected by the LPDC, the educator shall be given a copy of the IPDP Review Criteria with the reasons for rejection clearly indicated. Educators may then submit a revised plan within ten (1O) days of the initial rejection notice, or, as may be the case, submit additional documentary materials or explanation to justify the plan. Either the educator or the LPDC may request a conference to discuss any such concerns.

Appeal Process

Prior to the initiation of an appeal process, the educator should have requested reconsideration and the LPDC will have given recommendations for reconsideration. Following resubmission, the LPDC again votes to approve or non-approve the issue at hand. In the event that the lack of approval still exists, the educator should contact the LPDC Chairperson for direction concerning the initiation of an Appeals Process. As part of the Appeals Process, the educator may request a third party review by the School Board. This appeals panel is the final step in local resolution to the appeal process. The Ohio Department of Education as the administrative agency of the Ohio State Board of Education is the issuing authority for educator certificates and licenses.