

Local School Council
The Local School Council 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.

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.”
The Hamilton LSC has four subcommittees, three specifically devoted to a focus area of the LSC and a fourth made up of teachers called the Professional Planning Learning Committee (PPLC).
For the 2024-2025 school year the LSC is excited to have a student member at our meetings who will update the council on Student Voice Committee Meetings and be a voice for the students in council matters.

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.
2024-2025 Meeting Schedule
Meetings are held in then Hamilton Library and streamed via Zoom for members of the public.
Link available via the School Calendar.
August 28, 2024 @6:00pm
September 25, 2024 @6:00pm
October 23, 2024 @8:15am*
November 20,2024 @6:00pm
December- No Meeting
January 16, 2025 @6:00pm
January 22, 2025 @6:00pm
February 26, 2025 @6:00pm
March 19, 2025 @8:15am*
April 23, 2025 @6:00pm
May 28, 2025 @6:00pm
Meeting Type
*Learning Walk
Twice a year, the Hamilton Elementary Local School Council (LSC) meets during the school day, creating a unique opportunity for the council to connect with the school community while classes are in session. During these meetings, we participate in Learning Walks—classroom visits that allow stakeholders to experience the teaching and learning happening daily. These walks give LSC members, Hamilton parents, and community members a chance to see our teachers in action and students actively engaged in their learning environments. The purpose of the Learning Walk is to provide council members with a deeper understanding of the school day, which informs their contributions to the budget, Continuous Improvement Work Plan (CIWP), and principal evaluations. As we foster a culture of collaboration, our teachers and staff also participate in Learning Walks as part of their professional development. This practice helps build a culture of learning and collective growth, enhancing our instructional methods through shared experiences and insights. LSC members, Hamilton parents, and members of the public are invited to join the Learning Walk to observe and appreciate the dynamics of our classrooms. Participants will receive a set of guiding questions to focus observations. Afterward, we will gather in the library to reflect and discuss our observations.
2024-2026
LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCIL
Meet the Parents, Staff and Community Members of the Local School Council