SBDM - School Based Decision Making

What is the SBDM Council?

School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) Councils create school policies and make a wide range of decisions, from selecting textbooks to choosing a new principal. Most JCPS schools have a council, and most councils include three teachers, two parents, and an administrator. The teachers and parents are elected to the council. All SBDM Council policies are designed to help boost student achievement and must be consistent with Jefferson County Board of Education (JCBE) policies. The Council meets once a month.

Who serves on the Council?

Our council consists of 3 parents, 5 teachers, 1 administrator, and 1 classified member.

Who is eligible to run for Council?

Any parent with a child attending St. Matthews Elementary School during the following school year is eligible to run for SBDM. Additionally, eligible parents cannot be an employee nor a relative of an employee of St. Matthews Elementary School, nor the Jefferson County district administrative office(s). SBDM council members cannot be a board member, nor a board member’s spouse, have a business interest with the district nor St. Matthews Elementary School. Pursuant to KRS 160.380, parent council members will need to submit to a national and state fingerprinted criminal background check and also submit a letter from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services stating the member has no findings of substantiated child abuse or neglect through a background check of child abuse and neglect records. SBDM representatives are required to attend a training session (six-hours for a new members/ three-hours for an experienced member) and monthly meetings.

SBDM Elections

Elections are held yearly in May.  Parents, step parents, foster parents, and legal guardians of students attending SME for the following school year are able to vote.

If you have any questions regarding nominations or the election process, please email SME PTA President Emily McGrath at smepresident1@gmail.com.