Parent Contract
The success of Prospect Co-op Preschool (the “Co-op”) depends on all parents fulfilling their responsibilities and contributing their talents and personalities. It is your school, and it is run by you through the Board of Directors and committees. All parents are expected to serve on the board or a committee. The board positions and committees are described on the enclosed sheets. Please read the descriptions and decide which job would suit you best, then indicate your first, second and third choices, below.
The Co-op will not accept incomplete registration packets, and your child will not be guaranteed a spot for the upcoming school year if incomplete registration materials are submitted.
Committees
Most committee duties occur in the evenings and on weekends. Special school events are held on Saturdays throughout the year.
Outdoor Maintenance Committee: Two chairpersons are responsible for coordinating maintenance activities on this committee, including repairing, and general upkeep of the playground and outdoor spaces.
Indoor Maintenance Committee: Two chairpersons are responsible for coordinating maintenance activities on this committee, including sourcing items for classrooms and setting them up over the summer. The committee also oversees repairing and general upkeep of the toys and equipment in the classrooms.
DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Committee: Two chairpersons will create a diversity plan for Prospect, focusing on how to diversify our student body, teachers, and partners to create a culture of equity and inclusion.
Sunshine Committee: Members of this committee provide support to Prospect families in times of great happiness, sadness, and when additional support would be well-received.
Social Media Committee: Two chairpersons coordinate the strategy and execution of our social media platforms including content creation (copy, photos, videos, etc.) and posting/monitoring all platforms. Experience with social media is preferred.
Community Service Committee: One chairperson coordinates the organization of 3 community service events per year (fall, winter, spring).
Social Committee: One chairperson coordinates the organization of 2–4 social events a year to build connection and community. Events include opportunities for all students and families at Prospect to come together outside of the classroom.
Spring Event Fundraising Committee: Two chairpersons coordinate all the activities and duties of the committee, including planning and supervising the School Auction & Family Event.
Pumpkin Patch Committee: Two chairpersons coordinate the activities and duties of Prospect’s annual Pumpkin Patch Party, which takes place in October.
Virtual Bake Sale Committee: One chairperson coordinates Prospect’s Virtual Bake Sale Fundraiser, including developing classroom activities for the students, and executing the “sale.”
Board Positions
Board members are expected to attend monthly Board meetings, held in the evening on the second Tuesday of the month.
Advisor: Acts in an advisory capacity to the Administrator. Serves as a member of the Nominating, Personnel and Finance Committees.
Administrator: Prepares agendas and presides at all Board meetings. Meets regularly with Director to facilitate better communication between school and Board. Establishes a working relationship with the church pastor. Plans September and May orientation meetings with Director. Assigns parents to committee positions and appoints committee chairpersons. Liaisons with committee chairpersons during the course of the year to ensure that activities are moving forward as planned. Plans school calendar with Secretary, Assistant Administrator, Registrar and Director. Prepares annual report with Treasurer and Director. Keeps an up-to-date file of all forms and policy statements. Determines school closings with Director and contacts all Class Leaders. Hosts holiday and end-of-year Board meetings. Serves on Nominating, Personnel and Finance Committees. Assumes position of advisor in following year.
Assistant Administrator: Serves as the chairperson for the Virtual Bake Sale fundraiser. Presides at Board meetings in the absence of the Administrator. Assists in being a liaison between the Director, Class Leaders and parents. Member of the Nominating, Personnel and Finance Committees. Assumes position of Administrator in the following year and advisor the year after that.
Assistant Treasurer: Liaison for the Prospect Preschool treasurer. Communicates monthly updates at board meetings.
Registrar: Responsible for initial communication with parents of prospective students. Distributes registration packets and accepts applications, deposits and parent participation forms. Assigns children to classes, prepares associated mailings, completes the school directory, and keeps accurate records of enrolled students and a waiting list of prospective students. Attends nursery school fairs held in area to promote school.
Assistant registrar: Assists with registrar duties.
Secretary: Responsible for taking minutes at Board meetings, preparing, distributing and posting them. Responsible for typing and duplicating any letters, forms, or articles of business pertaining to the running of the school.
Health Coordinator: Collects and reviews NJ Universal Health forms and other required vaccination forms, prepares Health Cards, informs the board of all State and local Board of Health requirements, files Annual Immunization Status Report with the State of New Jersey each year, and informs parents of outbreaks of contagious diseases.
Web & Communications: Keeps website updated as needed. Maintains the school calendar, and registration information. Manages hello@ email inbox. Sets up staff & teacher G Suite, email addresses, groups. Maintains class list & parent email groups. Experience with Squarespace, G Suite, and social media is needed.
Church Liaison: Serves as a liaison between school and church and keeps church informed of nursery school business. Brings any school concerns involving the church to appropriate church boards for discussion and/or vote. Presents, for approval from appropriate church boards, teacher contracts, new school budget, changes in Constitution and changes in school policy.
Class Leaders: One Class Leader per class attends board meetings and has the following duties: Schedules yearly parent coverage for classrooms. Serves as a liaison between parents and the Board. Communicates ideas and decisions from Board meetings to class parents and brings suggestions, concerns, updates, or problems from class to Board meetings. Plans parent get-togethers and coordinates class holiday and end-of-year gifts for teachers.