Local advisory

councils for at least three Fayette County schools would be chosen by

May and begin meeting in August under a time line being considered by

the Board of Education.

Dr. John DeCotis,

superintendent of schools, presented the time line and proposed policies

governing the councils during the Board of Education's meeting Monday

night. Board members will consider the proposals for a month and vote

on them March 19 at 7 p.m.

The plan, DeCotis

said, is to pilot the school council concept in three or four schools

this coming school year, with plans to expand the program to all county

schools in 2002-2003.

That's in compliance

with new state law enacted last year, which requires school systems to

have councils operating in one elementary, one middle and one high school

Under the proposal,

the pilot schools would be Starr's Mill High School, Whitewater Middle

and Braelinn Elementary, with tentative plans to also include Peeples

Elementary.

Bylaws and

codes of ethics for the councils have been adapted from those developed

for Marietta schools, and DeCotis is recommending that the councils use

those bylaws for four or five months, then amend them as necessary, after

sending suggested amendments to him for review.

If the time

line is approved, policy and administrative procedures for the councils

will be introduced to the school board in March, with adoption in April.

Principals also will notify the public of meetings in April, and the school

board would consider appointment of business representatives for the councils.

Under the law, principals would appoint one business partner and the board

would appoint another.

Councils are

required to have two business representatives, two parents and three teachers.

Election of

council members would be set for May, with training of the councils to

take place during June and July and meetings to begin in August.