Handbook
Committees & Task Forces
One of the key components of the Chicago Waldorf School’s collaborative structure is the committee structure. Every committee or task force has a written mandate or a written charge. These mandates or charges serve to advance the school’s strategic efforts and harmonize with the school’s Strategic Plan.
Every committee or task force has a chairperson who is responsible for coordinating and disseminating an annual operating plan for his or her committee, establishing a meeting schedule, coordinating meeting agendas, and submitting regular reports to the Board of Trustees.
Glossary of Terms
Board of Trustees Committee: a permanent committee intended to provide oversight on matters pertaining to school operations.
College of Teachers Committee: a permanent committee intended to consider and act on matters pertaining to the pedagogy.
Administrative Team: a committee authorized to implement policy established by the Board of Trustees and/or College of Teachers. A team is led by the administrative staff member who holds the administrative position that the team supports. An Administrative Team is composed of faculty and experts in the school community serving in an advisory capacity.
Joint Committee: a committee intended to coordinate responsibilities of the Board of Trustees, the College of Teachers and/or Administration.
School-Wide Committees: a committee that facilitates communication and long term planning among members of the Board of Trustees, the College of Teachers, Administration and parents.
Ad Hoc Committee: a committee that studies and recommends policy in matters pertaining to special situations rather than repeated functions. An Ad Hoc Committee may become a standing committee or subcommittee, and it may be composed of any combination of members of the Board of Trustees, the College of Teachers, Faculty, Administration and parents.
Task Force: a group that studies a specific subject for a specific period of time in order to reach a specific goal or recommend a course of action. A Task Force may be composed of any combination of members of the Board of Trustees, the College of Teachers, Faculty, Administration, and parents.
Mandate: authorization given to a committee to implement policy or action.
Charge: authorization given to a committee to investigate, report on and recommend policy or action.
College of Teachers Committees & Task Forces
Care Group: Facilitates the coordination of efforts between parents, teachers and, as needed, outside experts to support the student body of the Chicago Waldorf School.
Membership: Representatives of the College of Teachers, Faculty and Administrative Staff.
Reaccreditation Task Force: Carries responsibility for guiding the re-accreditation process the next three years.
High School Leadership Group: Directs the High School program of the school.
Membership: Three members of the College of Teachers who are also part of the High School Faculty.
Teacher Development Committee: Plans and facilitates effective teacher evaluation and professional development plans for all faculty.
Membership: Representatives of the College of Teachers.
Board of Trustees Committees & Task Forces
Audit Committee: Ensures the integrity of the financial and ethical business practices of the school, selects financial auditors, and provides whistleblower protection.
Membership: At least two non-employee members of the Board of Trustees.
Board Executive Committee: Coordinates the work of the Board of Trustees between Board meetings and serves as a sounding board for the Administrator.
Membership: Board of Trustees officers.
Committee on Trustees: Assures that the Board of Trustees is appropriately constellated.
Membership: Board of Trustees Chair, Secretary, Vice Chair, PTOC Representative to the Board of Trustees, Administrator.
Finance Committee: Monitors the school’s financial status and manages the budgeting process.
Membership: Administrator, Business Manager, Assistant Business Manager, Treasurer, one member of the College of Teachers and at least one additional expert on finances and financial planning.
Administrative Teams
Admissions Team: Ensures consistency and fairness in the admissions process, plans all outreach events.
Membership: The Director of Admissions, an Admissions Associate, one Faculty representative from each level.
Tuition Assistance Team: Ensures consistency and fairness in the awarding of financial aid.
Membership: The Officer of the Business Office, the Director of Admissions, the Administrator, the Registrar, at least one non-parent College of Teachers member.
Marketing & Communications Team: Provides all marketing, communications, public relations, media relations and advertising for the school.
Membership: The Director of Marketing and Communications, at least two Faculty members, one of whom is a College of Teachers member, up to three additional community members who are experts in marketing, communication, public relations, media relations and/or advertising.
Joint Committees & Task Forces
Buildings & Grounds: A Joint Committee of the Board of Trustees, College of Teachers and Administration – Provides support, inspiration and vision for capital improvements and acquisitions, physical plant and grounds operations and develops a master plan for campus sustainability that integrates anthroposophical principles.
Membership: The Administrator, the Operations Manager, Trustees, College members, Faculty members and members of the community with expertise in architecture, construction or maintenance.
Compensation Review Task Force: A Joint Task Force of the Board of Trustees, College of Teachers and Administration – Develops and recommends a compensation plan that insures appropriate compensation for all faculty and staff.
Membership: The Administrator, at least one member with expertise in human resource management, at least one College of Teachers member, at least one Board of Trustees member, one member of the Finance Committee.
Development Committee: A Joint Committee of the Board of Trustees and Administration – Oversees the fundraising program and participates in direct fundraising activities.
Membership: The Administrator, the Development Director, representatives of the Board of Trustees, the College of Teachers and community.
Enrollment Management Task Force
A Joint Task Force of the Board of Trustees and the College of Teachers – Sets strategic direction for enrollment, including analyzing new markets, forecasting, diversity and tuition assistance.
Membership: The Director of Admissions and at least one member of the Board of Trustees and one member of the College of Teachers.
Faculty Staff Recruitment Committee: a Joint Committee of the College of Teachers and Administration – Implements recruiting and hiring policies and procedures for all open faculty and staff positions.
Membership: The Administrator, one additional administrative staff member, one faculty member from each level of the school.
Management Team: A Joint Committee of the College of Teachers and Administration – The Executive Group of the College of Teachers and the Administration responsible for the coordination and supervision of internal and external aspects of the school.
Membership: The Administrator, the College of Teachers Chair, Level Chairs.
School Executive Committee: A Joint Committee of the Board of Trustees, College of Teachers and Administration – The Executive Group of the school responsible for facilitating effective governance and communication between the Board of Trustees, College of Teachers and Administration.
Membership: The Board of Trustees Chair, the College of Teachers Chair, the Administrator.
School Wide Committees
Diversity Committee – Works to encourage that the school community is representative of the wider Chicago community.
Membership: The Administrator, at least one chairperson of the Parent Teacher Organization, at least one College of Teachers member, the Director of Admissions and members of the faculty and parent community both Trustee and non-Trustee.
Parent Teacher Organization – Please see expanded section in PTO section.
Room Parents Committee – Please see expanded section in PTO section.
Strategic Planning Committee – Identifies the school’s long term goals and how best to achieve them.
Membership: The Administrator, the Board of Trustees Chair, the College of Teachers Chair, the Parent Teacher Organization Chair, the Development Director and other faculty and community members with expertise.