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THE COOPERATIVE
Hilltown is structured as a volunteer parent
cooperative. Parental involvement is an essential factor in
the school, both because of the belief that education is enhanced
by strengthening the ties between school and home and because
of the limited operating budget created by the small size
of the student body. Parent contributions not only help us
to keep costs down, but allow a flexibility, richness and
diversity in the school which we might otherwise not achieve.
Parents, staff and community members who
invest an average of at least 4 hours of volunteer
work per month to benefit the school as a whole, become members
of the coop and are eligible to vote at the cooperative's
annual meeting and to elect the school's Board of Trustees.
Parent representatives serve on the major decision-making
bodies of the school (the Management Team and the Board of
Trustees) and on many policy-making committees.
Parents are strongly encouraged to become
members in order to become more actively involved in their
children's educational environment and for the good of the
school as a whole. The ways in which parents can meet the
4-hour work requirement are as varied as their skills and
interests as you can tell by looking at the volunteer form
that all parents are asked to fill out by the first day of
school. The only requirement is that the work be for the benefit
of the school and not just their own family. They may work
on subcommittees of the Board of Trustees or school task groups
defined by the Management Team, volunteer to work with particular
teachers either in the classroom or at home, contribute to
building and maintenance projects, or help with administrative
duties from their homes.
The Community Coordinator is available at
the school to help parents find ways to fulfill their membership
commitment. If a parent is unable to meet the work requirement
due to personal or work constraints but would still like to
be a member, s/he may designate a community member who is
willing to fulfill the work obligation. HILLTOWN is willing
to help find community partners for parents in this position.
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