Local School Council
The Local School Council (LSC) is a publicly elected group of Parents, Staff Members and Community Members and together serve as a governing body for Hamilton Elementary.
The LSC provides a wide variety of stakeholders an opportunity to make important decisions about how students in their communities will be educated.
March LSC Learning Walk Meeting:
Date/Time: Thursday March 12 @ 8:15am - 10:15am
Location: Hamilton Elementary School, 1650 W. Cornelia Ave
In person: Library
We are excited to invite you to our upcoming LSC Learning Walk at 8:15 on Thursday March 12! This is a wonderful opportunity to observe our classrooms, experience student learning firsthand, and engage in meaningful discussions about our school’s instructional practices.
Due to space limitations, we can accommodate up to 50 attendees. Please complete this RSVP form by March 10 to secure your spot. If we reach capacity, we will maintain a waitlist.
Here is the schedule for the meeting and learning walk:
8:15-9:05 LSC Business
9:05-10:05 Learning Walk
10:05-10:35 Debrief
Purpose and Proceedings
The Local School Council (LSC) is responsible for:
• Approving the school based academic plan or Continuous Improvement Work Plan (CIWP)
• Approving the alignment of budgetary resources to the CIWP
• Engaging in the annual evaluation of contract principal’s professional practices
• Selecting or renewing contract principals
During the meetings we hear update from the LSC Chairperson, the LSC Subcommittees, the Hamilton Action Team and the Principal. Meetings are open to the public except for items related to personnel performance (i.e., principal review, retention and selection). Any closed meeting will be announced at least 48 hours prior, and will be announced as a “Closed Meeting.”
Hamilton LSC Subcommittees:
1. Budget Committee
2. CIWP Committee (Continuous Improvement Work Plan)
3. PPLC (Professional Planning Learning Committee- made up of teachers)
4. Student Voice Committee (student member)
Sample LSC Meeting Agenda
1. Welcome, Call to Order
2. Roll Call, Establish Quorum
3. Approval of the Agenda
4. Reports & Updates
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Principal’s Report (e.g., School performance, updates on CIWP goals)
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Committee Reports (e.g., Budget, CIWP, PPLC, Student Voice Comte.)
5. Public Participation
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Citizens may speak (2–3 minutes per person)
6. LSC Discussion Items
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Mid-year CIWP check-in
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Review principal evaluation process or timeline
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Community partnership ideas or upcoming events
7. Action Items
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Approve CIWP (Continuous Improvement Work Plan) updates
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Approve school budget or changes to discretionary funds
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Principal evaluation or renewal
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New business: hiring principal, policy updates, grant requests
8. Adjourn
2025-2026 Meeting Schedule
Meetings are held in then Hamilton Library and are also streamed via Zoom for public access. The Zoom link is available on the School Calendar. Please note meeting topics below are tentative and subject to change.
Wed, July 9th @ 6:00pm
Organizational Meeting
Tues, August 26th @ 6:00pm
Back to School
Wed, September 24th @ 6:00pm
Wed, October 29th @ 8:30am
LSC Learning Walk 9:20am
Wed, November 19th @ 6:00pm
CIWP Priority 1: Curriculum & Instruction
December
No Meeting
Wed, January 28th @ 6:00pm
CIWP Priority 2: Inclusive & Supportive Env
Wed, February 25th @ 6:00pm
CIWP Priority 3: Connectedness & Wellbeing
Thurs March 12th @8:15am
LSC Learning Walk 9:20
Wed, April 29th @ 6:00pm
Budget Meeting
Wed, May 27th @ 6:00pm
End of Year Recap
The Continuous Improvement Work Plan (CIWP) from Chicago Public Schools is the strategic planning process of schools that also meets the federal and state requirements of a school improvement plan. This plan establishes a school's mission, and the strategies and milestones the school will take to accomplish its goals. The CIWP follows a continuous improvement cycle, where goals, strategies and milestones are monitored regularly and adjusted as needed.
2024-2026
LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCIL
Meet the Parents, Staff and Community Members of the Local School Council
