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MPS District Advisory Council seeks clearer advisory role, meets monthly online
Summary
The district advisory council (DAC) updated the PACE committee on March 11 about its virtual monthly meetings, leadership, membership and efforts to increase parent voice in district decision making. DAC leaders asked the board to consider ways to give the council more advisory access to policies and agenda items earlier in the process.
Regina Steber, family and community associate in MPS’s Department of Strategic Partnerships, and Joelle Worm, chair of the District Advisory Council executive committee, presented an update on the DAC at the March 11 PACE meeting.
Joelle Worm told the committee the DAC was created to give families a voice in district decision-making and said the council meets virtually on the first Thursday of each month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Worm said the DAC has focused on removing participation barriers by keeping meetings virtual and open and that the council’s executive committee intentionally rotates members. She urged the board to consider ways the DAC could play a larger advisory role on district policies and practices and noted parent frustration when topics arrive “already in the final stage.”
Regina Steber summarized participation and structure: each school appoints parent representatives who are expected to share DAC information with their school communities; the executive committee includes Joelle Worm (chair), Brianna Fox, Nicole Crown and Jasmine Blakely. Committee members discussed timing and access: Director Zomber and Director Ferguson both said they supported stronger, more timely engagement between board committees and DAC and asked staff to provide the DAC’s materials, membership process and recent agendas so board members can explore more direct engagement.
Committee members and DAC leaders highlighted priorities that commonly arise in DAC meetings, including transportation, special education and the budget. Participants noted the DAC averages about 70 attendees in virtual meetings and has had as many as more than 90. Chair Leonard and other directors thanked Worm for her candor and encouraged continued collaboration; the committee agreed to publicize an upcoming open working session on March 26 focused on safety and related issues.
The presentation was informational; no committee action was taken.
