Overview

The purpose of the Principal Advisory Council is to bring parents, school employees, students and community members together to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other’s perspectives and share ideas for increasing student achievement and performance.

The members of the Principal Advisory Council are accountable to the constituents they serve and shall:

  1. Maintain a school-wide perspective on issues;
  2. Act as a link between the school and the community;
  3. Encourage the engagement of parents and other stakeholders within the school community; and
  4. Work to increase student achievement and performance through transparent operations and shared best practices.

The Principal Advisory Council operates under the control and management of the DeKalb County School District and will follow Board of Education policies and procedures. The Principal Advisory Council provides advice and recommendations to the school principal, the local board of education and local school superintendent on matters related to school climate/culture, student achievement, and community partnerships.

Fall 2025 Principal Advisory Council Elections

Are you passionate about education and committed to making a meaningful difference in your school community? If so, DCSD invites you to declare your candidacy for the 2025–2026 Principal Advisory Council (PAC). The candidate declaration window is open now through Friday, September 5, 2025.

Serving on the Principal Advisory Council offers a unique and rewarding opportunity to contribute to the success and continuous improvement of your school. As a PAC member, you will collaborate with parents, school staff, students, and community partners to foster mutual respect, embrace diverse perspectives, and develop strategies that enhance student achievement and school performance.

Council members serve as essential liaisons between the school and the wider community, promoting transparency, encouraging meaningful engagement, and sharing effective practices. Additionally, PAC members play a critical role in reviewing the school’s Continuous Improvement Plan and may be involved in the selection process for the school principal. Individuals who are enthusiastic about educational excellence and community collaboration are encouraged to consider this important leadership opportunity.

Please complete the form below to run for a position on your school’s Council.

https://form.jotform.com/electionbuddy/2025-dekalb-fall-pac-declarations

Additional Resources for Council Elections 

For assistance with the electronic voting system or general information about the elections process, please contact schoolgovernance@dekalbschoolsga.org or (678) 676-0718.

2025-2026 Calendar of Events

School Governance 101 Training
Dates: October 24, November 20, December 12, January 16, and February 12
Location: Virtual Training Session

Date Time Link to Register
Friday, October 24, 2025 (virtual) 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Register Here
Thursday, November 20, 2025 (virtual) 5:00 pm- 7:00 pm Register Here
Friday, December 12, 2025 (virtual) 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Register Here
Friday, January 16, 2026 (virtual) 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Register Here
Thursday, February 12, 2025 (virtual) 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Register Here

Feedback on 2025-2026 Principal Advisory Council Bylaws

Principal Advisory Councils play a vital role in strengthening the connection between schools and the communities they serve. Ensuring that the bylaws guiding PAC operations are clear, relevant, and reflective of the district’s core values is essential to maintaining effective governance and engagement.

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is committed to transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement. As part of this commitment, the district is seeking input from Principal Advisory Council (PAC) members and the broader community on the proposed bylaws for the 2025–2026 school year.

Your voice is a valuable part of shaping the future of our schools. Thank you for contributing to this important process. Please send your feedback to schoolgovernance@dekalbschoolsga.org by July 31, 2025.

Proposed School Year 2025-2026 Principal Advisory Council Bylaws

Innovative Solutions Lab

What is the Innovation Solutions Lab (ISL)?

The School Innovation Department annually hosts a competition that awards funding for proposals that demonstrate innovation in addressing school-based problems of practice. Multiple awards up to $10,000 each are awarded to school-based teams to implement their innovative solution(s).

Who can apply?

Teams must be school-based and comprised of 3-6 individuals. Teams may include teachers, academic coaches, support staff, administrators, parents, and students. Teams must include a principal or assistant principal.

How does my DCSD school-based team apply?

Teams attend a mandatory workshop to identify a problem of practice. Additional technical support sessions are offered through the School Innovation Department. Use the application link, project plan, and budget template linked below to apply.

Get Ready for Pitch Day!

Finalists will present their innovative proposals to a panel of judges at Pitch Day!

ISL Key Dates

  • August 19, 2024: Application Window Open
  • October 11, 2024 (5:00pm EST): Priority Deadline – School-based teams who submit their applications by the priority deadline will receive feedback on their submissions by Monday, October 21, 2024. This feedback may be used to strengthen the ISL proposal before the final application deadline.
  • October 25, 2024 (5:00pm EST): Final Application Deadline
  • November 4, 2024 (5:00pm EST): Pitch Day Invitation Notification
  • November 20, 2024: Pitch Day – a 20-minute block between the hours of 9:00am and 2:00pm

Optional Support Available

  • Information Sessions (Virtual): October 1 (10:00am EST) and October 7 (1:00pm EST)
  • TregoED Situation Appraisal Sessions to Identify a Problem of Practice (In-Person): September 25, October 3, October 8, and October 9 (8:00pm – 12:00pm EST) – Register for course # 5606 in Frontline.
  • Technical Support Sessions (In-Person): On October 10 and 23, the School Innovation team will host optional work sessions to support finalizing your team’s application, project plan, and budget. Register using this link.

ISL Key Documents

If you have questions or need technical assistance, please contact Terrence Martin, Coordinator III, School Redesign at terrence_martin@dekalbschoolsga.org.

Spotlight Schools

What is the Spotlight Schools initiative?

The DCSD Spotlight Schools program is an initiative that highlights innovative instructional practices through in-person school visits and tailored resources. The program will highlight forward-thinking, cutting-edge approaches to teaching and learning for educators to learn and replicate.

Hosting schools will welcome and share practices to foster a culture of collaboration and transparency across the district.
Hosting schools will host up to 40 visitors for a full-day visit (between February—March 2026) and curate artifacts for sharing and learning. Selected Spotlight Schools will receive funding, resources, and support. For more information, please contact Alia Summers.

Videos

What are the Spotlight School requirements?

  1. Hosting schools must align their innovative practice to one or more of the DCSD Six Essential Systems.
  2. Hosting schools must curate artifacts for sharing and learning their innovative practice.
  3. Hosting schools must create a planning team that will meet with the School Governance Coordinator and school-based teams in December 2025 and January 2026.
  4. Spotlight visits must occur between February—March 2026 (1 visit per school).

Spotlight Schools Key Dates:

The Spotlight Schools application closes November 21, 2025. Selected schools must plan to host their Spotlight School visit between February—March 2026 (1 visit per school).

Spotlight Schools Resources:

If you have any questions, please contact Alia Summers.

Dear Educators,

We are thrilled to announce the finalists for the Spotlight Implementation Grants! After a highly competitive selection process, we are excited to recognize the following educators and their projects:

  • Tamika Phillips – Attending the 2025 AVID conference
  • Natorsha York – Supporting Students with Disabilities
  • Arthurene Brown– Technology to Support AVID Program

These educators have developed innovative plans to bring the strategies they observed during their Spotlight visits to life, and we can’t wait to see their impact on student learning!

The selection process was incredibly competitive, and we want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all applicants. If you weren’t selected this time, there will be additional grant opportunities in Fall 2025—so stay tuned!

Thank you for your commitment to continuous learning and innovation. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about future opportunities, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Meetings

The Principal Advisory Council is subject to Georgia’s Open Meetings Act. A meeting for the purposes of the Open Meetings Act is defined as a quorum of the voting members of the Council at which any public matter, official business, or policy is to be formulated, discussed, presented, or voted upon. A committee which is comprised of a majority of the voting members of the Council is also subject to the Open Meetings Act.

All meetings are open unless otherwise provided by law (OCGA 20-2-86(f) and OCGA 50-14-1). Regular meetings may be cancelled or postponed without notice. The Council must:

  1. Post a public announcement of the times, dates and place of all regular meetings for the school year in a conspicuous location at the school and on the Principal Advisory Council webpage located on the school’s District-provided school website;
  2. Give written or electronic notice of the time, place, and date of a specific Council meeting to the Council members at least seven days prior to a regular meeting.

Council meeting agendas must:

  1. Include the time, date, and place as well as all matters expected to come before the Council; and
  2. Be posted at least seven days prior to the meeting, at the meeting site, and on the Principal Advisory Council webpage located on the school’s District-provided school website.

Note: Failure to include an item on the agenda that becomes necessary to address during the meeting does not prohibit the Council from amending the agenda and considering and acting upon the item.

Council meeting summaries must:

  1. Include the subjects acted on and the members present at the meeting,
  2. Be written, and
  3. Be posted on the Principal Advisory Council webpage located on the school’s District-provided school website within two business days of the adjournment of the meeting.

Council meeting minutes must:

  1. The names of Council members present, the description of each motion or other proposal made during the meeting, names of those individuals making and seconding each motion or proposal, and a record of all votes taken;
  2. The name of each person voting for or against each motion or proposal, or abstaining from voting on each motion or proposal;
  3. Be sent to Council members within 20 days following each Council meeting;
  4. Be approved by the Council no later than the next regular Council meeting and be posted on the Principal Advisory Council webpage located on the school’s District-provided website within two business days of the adjournment of the meeting; and
  5. Be kept on file at the school office for anyone to request to review.

Note: Visual and/or sound recording of Open Meetings will be permitted.

Executive Session (Closed Meeting)

Meetings, or a portion of a meeting, may be closed to the public (an “executive session”) ONLY if the Superintendent or his or her designee requests an executive session for matters related to the purchase, disposition or lease of property or real estate; personnel matters except for the receipt of evidence or when hearing argument on personnel matters including imposing disciplinary action or to dismiss an employee or discussing matters of policy regarding employment or hiring practices; or any other matter covered by attorney-client privilege.

In the unlikely event that the Superintendent requests an Executive Session of the Council, the following procedures must be followed:

  1. A majority vote of a quorum present for a Council meeting is necessary to close the meeting.
  2. One of the above listed reasons must be specified for closing the meeting and recorded in the minutes.
  3. Minutes must reflect the names of the Council members present and the names of those voting to close the meeting which should be posted on the Principal Advisory Council webpage located on the school’s District-provided school website.
  4. Only the portion of the meeting that deals with the above listed reasons will be closed; other portions of the meeting must be open, and minutes shall be taken, recorded and open for public inspection as detailed above.
  5. When a meeting or portion of a meeting is closed, the Council Chair will execute and file with the minutes of the meeting a notarized affidavit stating under oath that the closed portion of the meeting dealt with the above listed reasons.
  6. If one or more persons in Executive Session starts a discussion not authorized under the Open Meetings exceptions, the Council Chair shall immediately rule the discussion out of order.
  7. If one or more persons continues the discussion, Council Chair shall immediately adjourn the Executive Session.

Violation of Open Meetings Act

  • Superior courts have jurisdiction to enforce the Open Meetings law; the attorney general has the authority to bring law enforcement actions, criminal or civil.
  • If a superior court determines that a Council has not complied with the act, the court will—unless special circumstances exist—assess in favor of the complaining party reasonable attorney’s fees and other litigation costs.
  • Any individual knowingly and willfully conducting or participating in a meeting in violation of the Open Meetings act is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may punished by a fine not to exceed $1000.00.

Alternatively, a civil penalty may be imposed by the court in any civil action brought pursuant to this chapter against any person who negligently violates the terms of this chapter in an amount not to exceed $1,000.00 for the first violation. A civil penalty or criminal fine not to exceed $2,500.00 per violation may be imposed for each additional violation that the violator commits within a 12-month period from the date that the first penalty or fine was imposed.

References

Contact Us

    • Alia Summers
    • Coordinator, School Governance
    • Mobile: 678-656-6997