About the SOT

What is a School Organizational Team?

A school organizational team is a group of members of a school community that serves as an advisory body to the school principal by providing advice and assistance to the principal as it relates to the development and carrying out of the School Plan of Operation in accordance with NRS 388G.540 through NRS 388G.760.

Each year, the principal determines the size of the school organizational team (from three possibilities) for the following term beginning October 1 of each year.

School organizational teams consist of 8 to 14 voting members, in one of three possible combinations:

The school principal, 2 licensed staff members, 1 educational support professional, and 4 parents.
The school principal, 3 licensed staff members, 1 educational support professional, and 5 parents.
The school principal, 4 licensed staff members, 2 educational support professionals, and 7 parents.

School organizational teams also include non-voting members:

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

Primary Functions of the School Organizational Team (SOT)

1. Provide assistance and advice to the principal regarding the School Plan of Operation

The SOT's primary function is to provide advice and assistance to the principal regarding the development and carrying out of the school plan of operation.

The school plan of operation is developed by the principal and consists of (1) the school performance plan, which is is developed using specific protocols and templates of Nevada's School-Level Continuous Improvement Process (CIP), with guidance from the Nevada Department of Education and (2) the school budget, which is developed utilizing CCSD tools, templates, and guidance.

The school organizational team has the opportunity to approve the plan of operation with approval of at least 75 percent of the voting members of the school organizational team who are present at the time of the vote.

2. Assist with the selection of the next principal

Another major function of the SOT is assisting with the selection of a new principal for the school in the case of a vacancy. The SOT is able to participate throughout the hiring process.

In a later module, you will learn more details about that participation.

3. Provide input regarding the principal

The third major function of the SOT is providing feedback on the principal to his or her supervisor, a School Associate Superintendent or Region Superintendent. The SOT can vote to provide feedback as a group two times per year at their discretion. However, individuals within the school community, including individual members of the SOT, may reach out at any time.

In a later module, you will learn how SOTs formalize actions like these.

Additional Functions of the School Organizational Team

Any action carried out by the school organizational team requires a vote. A majority of the voting members of the organizational team, excluding vacancies, constitutes a quorum for purposes of voting. A majority vote of the quorum is required to take action with respect to any matter.

School organizational team actions may, but are not required to include:

Selection of a community member to serve as a nonvoting member of the school organizational team, in accordance with NRS 388G.720(4).
Establishing and facilitating meeting procedures and norms.
Formalizing advice and assistance to the principal regarding the development or carrying out of the school plan of operation, ensuring that effective licensed teachers are employed at the school, or discussion of any additional authority to be recommended for transfer from central office to schools.
Providing input regarding the principal to the School Associate Superintendent or Region Superintendent during any part of but no more than two times each school year.
Participation in the process established by the Superintendent or designee for selecting a new principal in the case of a vacancy in accordance with NRS 388G.740, including identifying a list of desirable qualifications for principal, ranking recommended candidates, and selecting a representative of the school organizational team to participate in an interview with the Superintendent.
Voting to reject the Superintendent’s initial selection of a candidate to fill a principal vacancy.
Formalizing recommendations related to requests for use of school funds made by employees of the school.
Seeking input or hearing concerns from members of the school community and formalizing recommendations related to those concerns.
Initiating an investigation by the Board of School Trustees pursuant to NRS 391A.383 concerning parent and family engagement and school culture.
Formalizing a recommendation to the Superintendent related to how the District carries out obligations under NRS 388G.500-820, aligned administrative regulations codified in the Nevada Administrative Code.
Formalizing a recommendation to the principal of a magnet school, career and technical academy, special school, or alternative education program related to the reduction in size or conversion of the school into another type of school.

Principals are required by Nevada law and District Regulations to carry out certain activities related to the SOT:

Schedule the first meeting and acting as the chair of the team until a chair is selected.
Inform members of the school organizational team serving as parent representatives that their participation on the team does not mean that they are an employee of the school or the district and that if they are not otherwise employed by the district, they are immune from liability for civil damages as a result of an act or omission in performing any of the duties of the organizational team, in accordance with NRS 388G.720(7).
Train all members of the school organizational team utilizing materials and resources provided by the District and reporting the training utilizing a process established by the Superintendent or designee.
Seek advice and assistance from the school organizational team regarding development of the school plan of operation, which consists of the school budget and school performance plan, including amendments and adjustments after the initial approval of the plan.
Present the proposed plan of operation to the school organizational team for approval.
Seek advice and assistance from the school organizational team regarding implementation of improvement strategies and action steps and progress toward intended outcomes within the school performance plan and the use of the school budget, including carryforward and supply dollars, to improve student outcomes.
Seek advice and assistance from the school organizational team regarding fees, contributions, or purchase requested or required of parents, in consideration of the school budget, including carryforward and supply dollars.
Seek advice and assistance from the school organizational team regarding ensuring that effective licensed teachers are employed at the school.
Seek advice and assistance from the school organizational team regarding discussion of any additional authority to be recommended for transfer from central office to schools.
Ensure school organizational team meeting materials are posted on the school website and the district website through a process established by the Superintendent or designee.
Review, collect, and submit feedback on District policies and regulations under consideration by the superintendent for adoption, amendment, or repeal, as posted on the District website.

Limits to SOT Authority and Liability

When taking action, SOT members should consider:

The school organizational team does not have the authority to make decisions for the school or the district.
The school organizational team does not have the authority to act as the custodian of records, respond to requests for public records, or release information protected by FERPA or other federal or state law to third parties.
Individual members of the school organizational team do not have the authority to speak on behalf of the school organizational team as a whole.
Election to the SOT dot not make a person an employee of the local school precinct or the large school district.
Except as otherwise provided in NRS 388G.720, an organizational team and its members who are not employees of the large school district are immune from liability for civil damages as a result of an act or omission in performing any of the duties of the organizational team as set forth in NRS 388G.700 to 388G.750, inclusive.

SOT Authority Changes implemented during the 2023 Legistative Session

In 2023, the Nevada Legislature passed SB282, which includes legislation that adjusts the limitations of authority for certain activities of the SOT. The requirements are effective July 1, 2024, so are applicable for the 2024–2025 school year. Information in this resources has been updated to align with SB282.

SOT Communication Guidance

Unless specified in CCSD regulation or state law, school organizational teams are encouraged to communicate directly with and/or through the principal or, if necessary, the supervising region superintendent or school associate superintendent.

Any communication received from the school organizational team to any employee of the district other than the principal or supervising region superintendent or school associate superintendent will be referred to the principal or the region superintendent or school associate superintendent for consideration and reply.

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