Coweta County's

first school council is up and running.

The councils

are part of state House Bill 1187 and are used as advisory committees

to help schools run smoother.

Coweta's first

council is at Arnco-Sargeant Elementary School and Northgate High School

and Smokey Road Middle School will start later this year.

The councils

will all consist of two parents, two teachers, two members of the business

community and the school's principal.

Business representatives

were nominated by the schools and approved by the school board in May.

councils must be started in at least half of the county's schools by next

year, with all schools to have councils by the year following that.

But the Coweta

County School System may begin school councils in every school starting

next year.

The councils'

role is advisory, but potentially very influential. They can make recommendations

on a variety of topics school calendars, dress codes, and so on.

The law requires

that any recommendations made by a school council be placed on the school

board's agenda and acted upon within 60 days.

Staff members

at the initial three schools received initial training at West Georgia

RESA this past spring.