How to Form School Organizational Teams

SOT Responsibilities - SOT Size and Membership - SOT Elections

Each school in the Clark County School District will create a School Organizational Team which will assist the principal in making important decisions impacting the school. This team will be made up of elected licensed staff, education support professionals, parents/guardians, and students (at the secondary level), as well as one or more optional, non‐elected community members. Cultural diversity reflective of the student population should be considered.

This video is a three-minute overview of the requirements for forming School Organizational Teams. The information is provided in detail with resources below.

SOT Responsibilities

The School Organizational Team is responsible for:

  • Providing assistance and advice to the principal regarding the development of the School Plan of Operation.
  • Providing continued assistance and advice to the principal in carrying out the School Plan of Operation.
  • Assisting in the discussion of any additional authority to be transferred to the school to carry out responsibilities.
  • Assisting with the selection of the next principal when a principal vacancy occurs.

SOT Size and Membership

School Organizational Teams must consist of the following:

Voting Members

  • 2 to 4 licensed staff members
  • 1 or 2 educational support professionals
  • 3, 4, or 6 parents, representing 50% of the total number of voting members

Non‐Voting Members

  • School principal
  • 1 student representative in secondary schools (middle, junior high, and high schools)
  • 1 or more community members (optional)



Principals will decide the size of the SOT. The diagram below indicates possible team compositions.

SOT Membership Requirements:

  • 2 to 4 licensed staff members, number to be determined by the school principal.
  • Membership on the Team must be open to all licensed staff at the school.
  • Elected by a vote of all licensed staff at the school.
  • At least 50% of those elected must be CCEA members.
  • Election process established and conducted by CCEA.
  • Contact CCEA at 394@ccea-nv.org or visit leadtheway394.org.
  • 1 education support professional or 2 educational support professionals if there are 4 licensed staff members on the Team.
  • Membership on Team is open to all education support professionals at the school who are members of ESEA.
  • Elected by a vote of all education support professionals at the school.
  • Election process established and conducted by ESEA.
  • Contact ESEA at (702)794-2537 or visit eseavoice.org.
  • 3 to 6 parents or guardians, representing 50% of the total number of voting members.
  • Employees at the school are not eligible.
  • If the school has a parent organization, they will establish the process for electing parent/guardian members.
  • If no parent organization exists, the principal will run the process.
  • Parents and guardians must be notified of the opportunity to serve on the Team, how to be placed on the ballot, and when the vote will occur.
  • Contact the Nevada PTA at (702)258-7885 or FACES at (702)799-0303.
  • 1 non-voting student, secondary schools only.
  • Membership on the Team open to all students at the school. Any student can request to be placed on the ballot.
  • Can be nominated by a teacher or administrator if student agrees to nomination.
  • Elected by a vote of entire student body through confidential ballot.
  • May provide assistance and advice regarding the plan of operation.
  • 1 or more non-voting community members, optional.
  • Once formed, the Team will decide if they will add one or more community members.
  • Cannot otherwise qualify to serve as a parent, licensed, or education support staff member.
  • Assists the Team and provides input from the community.

SOT Elections

School Organizational Team members serve one-year terms from October 1 through September 30 with no term limits.

Licensed Staff SOT Elections

According to state law, The Clark County Education Association (CCEA) is responsible for the process for nominating and electing licensed staff to School Organizational Teams.

More information about the election process can be found at www.changenv.org. If you have further questions, email CCEA at changenv@ccea-nv.org.

Support Staff SOT Elections

According to state law, the Education Support Employees Association (ESEA) is responsible for the process for nominating and electing education support professionals to School Organizational Teams.

More information about the election process can be found at www.esea-nv.org. If you have further questions, call ESEA at 702-794-2537.

Parent SOT Elections

Parents and legal guardians are eligible to be members of the SOT at the schools where their children are currently enrolled.

CCSD employees cannot serve as the parent/guardian members of the SOT if their child attends the school at which they work. However, those employees may serve as a licensed or support staff member of the SOT at that school. CCSD employees may also serve as a parent/guardian member of a SOT if their child attends a school different from their work location.

According to state law, if a parent organization (PTA) currently exists at a school, they will establish and run the election process for parents. For schools without a parent organization, the school principal will run the election process.

Process for Schools with a PTA

  • The school PTA will send out nomination form for parents/legal guardians. Parents can nominate themselves or another parent/guardian at the school.
  • A ballot will be created based on the nominations received.
  • Elections will take place during a meeting at the school (date and time TBD by each school's PTA and principal).
  • All parents, regardless of PTA membership, can vote for their representatives on the SOT.
  • Contact Nevada PTA at 702-258-7885 or office@nevadapta.org with questions.

Sample letters (in English and Spanish) have been provided for schools with current PTAs to send home informing parents about the election process at their school.

These documents have spaces for schools to insert information specific to their school.

06a-PTA Parent Letter.docx
06b-PTA Parent Letter_SPANISH.docx

Process for Schools without a PTA

The school principal is responsible for overseeing the parent/guardian election process at schools with no current PTA. Please see the document below for requirements and a sample process principals may wish to utilize.

07-Parent Election Process.docx

Sample letters (in English and Spanish) have been provided for principals without current PTAs to send home informing parents about the election process at their school.

These documents have spaces for schools to insert information specific to their school.

08a-SOT Parent Letter (If No PTA).docx
08b-SOT Parent Letter Spanish (If No PTA).docx

Student SOT Elections

If the school enrolls students in grades 6 through 12, the School Organizational Team must have one member who is a student at the school. The student will be a non-voting member, but will provide assistance and advice. Students are the most important stakeholders we serve, and their voices can bring valuable awareness to the challenges and issues that are most important to them.

Guidelines for Student Elections

  • The principal will determine how and when elections for the student member of the SOT will take place.
  • Student members must be elected by a vote of all students enrolled at a school. The student receiving the most votes will serve on the SOT.
  • Any student who attends a school may request to be placed on the SOT ballot.
  • Teachers or administrators may nominate students, but the student must agree before their name is placed on the ballot.
  • Principals may want to consider requiring parent or guardian permission for a student to be included on the ballot.

Selection of Community Members

Once established, the School Organizational Team will have the option of selecting one or more community representatives to serve as non-voting advisory members. Community members can add a unique perspective and create a bridge between the school and what is important to students outside the school. A leader in the community may have contact with many students, families, and other community residents and therefore be able to share a broad view of the community’s needs. They also bring valuable skills that can help with school organization, management, and budgeting. They may even be a resource for other community connections that could benefit students and families.

As a School Organizational Team, think about members of your community who could add value to your team. If your school has existing community partnerships, you may want to consider representatives from these organizations as members of your team.