School-Community Partnerships Policy and Procedures Summary
Partnership with the community is essential to our success. When we align and coordinate our efforts we will create a seamless web of supports, address barriers to learning and generate new opportunities that strengthen family, school and community. By working together, we will ensure that schools are more effective, caring places that connect students and families with essential resources and learning opportunities.
How does MMSD define partnership?
A collaborative relationship between MMSD and community entities that is mutually beneficial and works toward shared goals and purpose through an agreed upon division of labor, services, outcomes and financial responsibility.
What is Policy 7544 - School and Community Partnerships? What is its purpose?
Board Policy 7544 - School and Community Partnerships includes guidelines (key definitions, guiding principles) and procedures for formalizing a partnership (development of Memorandum of Agreement and required approvals). The intent of the policy is to ensure that partnerships clearly articulate shared purpose, roles and responsibilities, communication structure, outcomes, metrics and monitoring schedule. The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) b com s a guiding document that drives implementation, monitoring and accountability of the partnership in a way intended to foster continuous improvement.
What is the process for formalizing a partnership?
Depending on the intensity-level, a partnership moves through the Board of Education (BOE) in different ways. An MOA is required to be developed for medium and high intensity partnerships. An MOA is a documented tailing the agreement between partners of shared purpose, outcomes, division of labor, services, and financial responsibility. The process to formalize a partnership per BOE policy is illustrated below. Th Strategic Partnerships & Innovation (SP&I) department provides guidance and support to MMSD staff and partners throughout the process.
Submit Proposal
(Partner or MMSD Staff)
Determine Intensity
(SP&I and MMSD staff)
Develop MOA
(MMSD staff and partner)
BOE Notice and Approval
(SP&I)
Implement and Monitor Partnership
(MMSD staff and partner)
Refine and Renew Partnership
(MMSD staff and partner)
BOE Notice and Approval
(SP&I)
What does it mean to be a “partnership owner”?
Every partnership has an MMSD staff member “owner”. Partnership owners are expected to carry out specific responsibilities necessary for a partnership to thrive. There are various ownership levels. In some cases, MMSD staff members may own a partnership on multiple levels.
- Organizational owner: SLT/COLT member or school administrator assigned to oversee overall relationship with partner organization
- Programmatic owner: MMSD staff member assigned to oversee implementation and monitoring of partnership
- Operational owner: MMSD staff member(s) assigned to implement specific tasks related to the partnership
Expectations of MMSD Partnership Owners
Organizational Owner | SLT/COLT member or school administrator assigned to oversee overall relationship with partner organization (ie. Elm. Schools of Hope/SP&I Director) |
---|---|
Communication |
|
Implementation |
|
Monitoring |
|
Programmatic Owner | MMSD staff member assigned to oversee implementation and monitoring of partnership (ie .Elem. Schools of Hope/Community Partnerships Coordinator) |
---|---|
Communication |
|
Implementation |
|
Monitoring |
|
Operational Owner | MMSD staff member(s) assigned to implement specific tasks necessary to implement partnership (ie. Elem. Schools of Hope/SP&I Programs Assistant) |
---|---|
|
SP&I Department
- Fields partnership inquiries and reviews with relevant MMSD staff
- Communicates with BOE regarding partnership development and responds to inquiries
- Presents high-intensity partnerships to BOE, in collaboration with MMSD partnership owner
- Supports MOA development process and reviews final MOAs
- Supports “match-making” between schools/departments and community organizations