History and Governance:
Springfield Parents for Public Schools or SPPS is a four-year-old grass roots membership organization working to improve Springfield Public Schools District 186 (SD 186) through active parent involvement, advocacy and education. SPPS is a local chapter of Parents for Public Schools, a national parent group with chapters throughout the states. Our membership currently stands at approximately 125 individuals, mostly parents of children currently attending SD 186 but with representation from the broader community, district staff and community organizations.
SPPS is the only organized parent group focused on district-wide policy issues and as such engages parents and community members in the important work of our educational system. SPPS members take part in district policy making and governance and work with the entire district to produce better schools. SPPS members are part of a team of committed "owners" of public schools able to speak up and take action to defend and promote quality public education.
Founded in 1998 by a small group of active SD 186 parents, SPPS has grown into a respected and influential organization. The local daily newspaper often quotes SPPS members, contacts SPPS leadership as issue sources and has supported SPPS' positions on several visible community issues. SPPS members sit on numerous district committees and work groups. Because of SPPS' active presence at school board meetings and regular reporting and tracking of school board actions, SD 186 has experienced a surge in attendance at school board meetings. SPPS members have participated with distinction on a number of high- profile district committees including a school construction advisory committee (its existence due in large part to SPPS advocacy efforts) that is now being touted as a model for future district initiatives. During the recent elections, five SPPS active members sought election to the School Board. Again, thanks in part to the work of SPPS and our community partners, 19 candidates ran for 6 contested seats reversing an alarming ten-year trend of uncontested elections.
SPPS is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors with an Executive Committee comprised of a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Immediate Past President also serves on the Board and Executive Committee. SPPS is completely run by volunteers. Individual members contribute by serving on district committees, tracking issues, writing newsletter articles and more. Many SPPS Board members serve on numerous community service board and civic groups including Communities and Schools of Sangamon County, NAACP, Unity for Our Community, Rotary Clubs and the Chamber of Commerce.
Impact and Accomplishments
All SPPS work activities fall within the three areas stated in our mission: education, advocacy and active parent involvement. SPPS publishes and distributes a community-wide a newsletter three times each year. All members receive the SPPS newsletter by mail. The following topics among others have been featured in SPPS newsletters:
- SPPS strategic planning summary
- Superintendent selection
- District budget cuts
- Tax referendum
- Teachers contract
- School board news
- Illinois School Construction Program
- No Child Left Behind Act
- ISAT/PSAE Comparisons
- State school funding reform
- Public engagement
- High school reform
- School calendar
- Edison, Inc.
SPPS disseminates information and action alerts to members via regular email communications. Regular informational updates cover school board meeting, community calendar items, State Board of Education and legislative activities, school reform ideas and much more. Action alerts urge members to contact elected officials and express their point of view on issues. The minutes of all SPPS Board meetings are also disseminated to members by email.
Over the years, SPPS has sponsored several activities and participated on numerous district and statewide initiatives. SPPS president was invited to serve on the advisory committee for selection of the new superintendent of schools. Several members were active on the districts' school construction program advisory committee and led efforts to conduct town meetings across the district. This entire effort grew out of SPPS' demands for better accountability for a proposed $32 million construction proposal.
SPPS organized members to support a tax referendum campaign orchestrated by the district and used the newsletter to educate members on the issue. After its defeat, SPPS led efforts to involve parents and represent student and parent priorities in the resulting budget cuts debates. SPPS' influence and membership grew significantly during this time as SPPS was looked to as a representative voice of parents, students and the broader community. A heated school board election soon followed centering on the principals of restoring confidence and trust through open and responsible leadership and active public engagement - a testimony to years of hard work by SPPS members and partners.
More recently, SPPS has recommended that the School Board adopt the PTA National Standards for Parent Involvement. In response the district has formed a district-wide planning group to develop recommendations for presentation to the School Board. SPPS is also a proud co-sponsor of Working Together for Student Success, a statewide conference involving nearly 40 Illinois educational and community organizations. Linda Tarr, SPPS founding president, will facilitate a workshop at this event.
Another major SPPS accomplishment is its part in the school districts' public engagement campaign called VOICES (Voices of Interested Citizens in Springfield). Four SPPS members served on the VOICES planning committee that grew out of years of SPPS work and advocacy and is being widely embraced by district and school board officials. Over 270 participants attended the first VOICES community meeting.
Other recent activities include a SPPS-sponsored community partners program designed to bring community groups currently working in the schools together to network, share ideas and develop recommendations to reduce barriers to community involvement in the schools.
The development of this SPPS web site is the group's most recent accomplishment. Through this web site SPPS members and the Internet community can review important educational topics and school district information as well as share ideas and advocate for positions through the site's online forum. The SPPS Board plans to present timely topics that relate to district happenings as well has provide a forum for registered members to create their own discussion threads. Through this technology, SPPS hopes to broaden the awareness of Springfield parents and community members to the many important educational issues facing public education in general and Springfield schools in particular. Furthermore, these online discussions will encourage active community engagement and bolster democratic participation.
Springfield Public School District 186 is headed in a new direction thanks in large part to the work of SPPS. The Springfield School Board elected four new members in April. A majority now embrace SPPS and have indicated a strong desire to work together. Many of the newly elected Board ran on platforms fashioned by SPPS leaders promoting broad community input and involvement in district decisions. SPPS has had a positive impact on Springfield School District and SPPS membership and influence continue to grow.
Guiding Principles: SPPS members believe…
- A strong public school system is essential for Springfield to maintain a high
quality of life.
- Parents who are involved and informed are best equipped to work with school and district leaders to develop solutions to pressing problems and create excellent schools.
- Parents have a responsibility and a right to hold our school system accountable to ensure that parents, teachers, administrators, school board members and community leaders work together to serve the best interests of all children in the district.
- School and district leaders must actively seek parent input, draw on parent expertise and resources and encourage significant parent involvement in governance issues.
Goals:
- That strong working partnerships between parents, community members, SD 186 and individual schools become standard in the school/district decision-making process.
- That Springfield Public Schools meet the highest standards of excellence.
- That parent interests are effectively represented.
- That Springfield Public School District186 is held accountable for their decisions by parents of Springfield Public Schools.
- That Springfield Public Schools have informed and active parents.
- That SPPS reflect a diverse parent perspective.
Strategies for Action
