Governance

The objective of the School Advisory Board (SAB) is to uphold the school vision and mission for the present and the future, work cooperatively and effectively with the AUS administration for the improvement of the school. 

The School Advisory board meets a minimum of 4 times per year. During the first year of inception (2015-16 SY) meetings may occur monthly. Members of the AUS community are encouraged to apply for membership. Membership applications are reviewed every fall at the start of each academic year. 

AUS Advisory Board can consist of fifteen to twenty members, some voting members elected and/or appointed by the school community, some serving ex-officio, and others will be selected based on their affiliation and relationship with AUS. The Members are nominated and elected for 2 years terms.

Members:
Officers:

Ms. Amani Abulhasan, Co-Chair

Ms. Lama AlBabtain, Co-Chair

Mr. Nawaf Arhama, Vice Chair

Mr. Mijbil AlAyoub, Public Relations Liaison & PTSO Rep.

, Secretary & ES Teacher Representative
 

Voting Members:

Ms. Rosana Bracho ,  ES Parents Rep

Mr. Mijbil AlAyoub, MS Parents Rep

Mr. Abdullah Naser, HS Parents Rep

,  HS Student/ Student Council President

,  HS Student/ Student Council Vice President

Ms. Irina Itkin, U.S. Embassy Representative

Mr. Brian Scott, Chevron Representative 

Ms. Mindy Lee, ES Teacher Representative

Ms. Debon Stotts, MS Teacher Representative

Ms. Candice Warzecha,  HS Teacher Representative
 

Non-Voting Members:

Mr. Michael Wininger, Director

Ms. Taryn Peirera, Associate Director

Mr. Michael Elston, Secondary School Principal

Mr. Joshua Henry, Elementary School Principal

PURPOSE

The objective of the School Advisory Board (SAB) is to uphold the school vision and mission for the present and the future, and to work cooperatively and effectively with AUS administration for the improvement of the school.

DUTIES

The roles and duties of the SAB are to provide strategic guidance and support on the school’s overall progress, to be an advocate for ALL students, and to be actively involved in the school improvement and accreditation process. The SAB always demonstrates diversity in discussion and unity in action.

MEMBERSHIP

The SAB will consist of fifteen to twenty members, including voting members elected and/or appointed by the school community, ex-officio members, and others to be appointed based on their affiliation and relationship with AUS. The members are nominated and elected for two year terms.

ORGANIZATION

The SAB will consist of four officers: Chairperson, Co-Chair, Public Relations Liaison and Secretary. The four officers will be elected within the SAB by all the voting members. School administrators cannot hold any officer role on the SAB.

MEETINGS

The School Advisory Board shall meet a minimum of four times per year. The scheduled dates and times for these meetings will be agreed on by the members at the first meeting of the SAB each school year. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed in coordination with all board members. A schedule of meetings will be posted on the AUS website.

Meeting Agendas will be sent electronically prior to each meeting to all members and Meeting Minutes will be distributed after each meeting.

BYLAWS AMENDMENTS

An ad hoc policy and procedures review committee shall be formed annually to review the board bylaws, general policies, and operating procedures. The committee shall be elected from the board membership. Any changes to policy, procedure, or bylaws will be presented to the board for approval.

SAB POLICY MANUAL

STANDING COMMITTEES
Advisory Board Committees are:

• Strategic Planning Committee
• School Improvement and Accreditation Committee
• Marketing and Public Relations Committee
• Nominating Committee
• Adhoc committees (convene as needed)

• Strategic Planning Committee:

To assist the school administration in developing, executing, assessing and, as necessary, modifying the school's strategy for long-term growth.

• School Improvement and Accreditation Committee

To improve the school’s overall quality by providing recommendations and ideas to the School Administration, and to support the school in achieving compliance with the accreditation standards.

• Marketing and Public Relations Committee

The committee is concerned with the School's standing, promotion, and relationships with its public audiences, including other schools, the community and the government.

• Nominating Committee

The committee takes applications and reviews candidates who want to be members of the Advisory Board. They recommend a slate of candidates.

• Adhoc committees (convene as needed)

 

Minutes of Meetings

• November 2016 Minutes

SAB 2016-2017 END OF YEAR REPORT

Minutes of Meetings

• October 30, 2017 Minutes
  
• January 16, 2018 Minutes
  
• March 20, 2018 Minutes
• May 15, 2018 Minutes

SAB 2017-2018 END OF YEAR REPORT

Minutes of Meetings

• October 24, 2018 Minutes
• November 28, 2018 Minutes
• January 23, 2019 Minutes
• SAB School improvement and Accreditation subcommittee Reports February 20, 2019
• SAB School improvement and Accreditation subcommittee Reports March 27, 2019

SAB 2018-2019 END OF YEAR REPORT

Minutes of Meetings

• October 16, 2019 Minutes
• November 22, 2019 Minutes

• September 5, 2022 Minutes
• November 30, 2022 Minutes
• January 25, 2023 Minutes

 

Article I:

Name

The name of the organization shall be American United School Parent/Teacher/Student Organization (PTSO).

---

Article II:

Mission Statement and Purpose

1. The Mission of the PTSO
 

“Taking education to the next level through commitment, collaboration and communication among parents, students and educators”
 

2. The Purpose of the PTSO is :

A. To foster and nurture relationships among parents, educators and students for the benefit of the school community.

B. To develop a closer connection between school and home by encouraging parent involvement in the promotion of student welfare.

C. To recruit and coordinate volunteers, provide special recognition in awards ceremonies or through other activities, organize parent education events.

D. Support in lieu of a Booster club, music, foreign language club, sports, theatrical productions and much more.

---

Article III:

Membership

Members of the PTSO are all students, parents and guardians whose children are students in the school. Members also include staff and administration of the school as determined by the School Director.

---

Article IV:

Executive Council

There shall be an Executive Council (ExCo) that will serve as the administrative arm of the PTSO. The ExCo will meet once per month. A quorum will consist of at least four (4) ExCo officers (non-school employees).

Section 1

The ExCo shall include a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Parent Representative (one from each level: Elementary, Middle School and High School), one Teacher from each level, one Elementary Student, one Middle School Student Council member, one High School Student Council member and Principals of Elementary, Middle School and High School.

Section 2

A. All ExCo officers, except the Principals and Teachers, shall be elected at an annual meeting held in the first two months of each school year.

B. Election of ExCo officers shall be by ballot except when there is only one nominee for an office.

C. The ExCo officers shall be elected to serve for one school year.

D. Their term of office shall begin following the election after a one month transitional period of hand over.

Section 3

The Teacher representatives will be selected for a one-school year term by and from among the AUS teachers in the school.

Section 4
No ExCo officer shall hold more than one office at a time.

Section 5

There shall be no limit to the number of consecutive terms an ExCo officer may hold the same position.

Section 6

Vacancies on the ExCo will be filled as soon as possible by majority vote amongst ExCo officers.

Section 7

When an ExCo officer fails to attend without adequate excuse or if the ExCo officer is not fulfilling his/her responsibilities as prescribed in the by-laws, the officer may be replaced by the ExCo, by a vote of at least four (4) officers (non-school employees) and the position may be filled according to Article IV Section 5.

Section 8

ExCo officers should not also be members of the School Advisory Board, except the PTSO President and the Principals. However, the PTSO President should always serve on the School Advisory Board.

Section 9

Before an ExCo officer or spouse accepts a position from the school with any remuneration, full disclosure shall be provided to the PTSO in order to disclose the relationship.

---

Article V:

Duties of the ExCo and its members

Section 1

The President shall preside at all PTSO meetings and shall ensure that all tasks undertaken by the PTSO are completed.

Section 2

The Vice President assists and shall serve in the absence of the President including filling in when there is a vacancy amongst ExCo officers.

Section 3

The Secretary shall keep a record of all PTSO meetings and any required correspondence (including minutes, briefs, etc.). Minutes should be circulated within one week following PTSO or ExCo (or other) meetings.

Section 4

The Treasurer will keep the PTSO’s financial records and books in good order and will be primarily responsible for all financial transactions. The financial books will be kept on a monthly basis and shall be made available, upon request, to the general PTSO membership. Any commitment to spend or actual expenditure will be signed by the Treasurer and either the President or the Secretary.

Section 5

The Teacher representatives shall be present during PTSO meetings. The Teacher representatives serves as liaison between PTSO and staff and keeps PTSO members informed of staff concerns or ideas.

Section 6

The Principals shall be present during PTSO meetings. The Principals provide the PTSO with information on administrative developments in their respective schools.

Section 7

The Students representatives shall be present during PTSO meetings. The Students representatives serve as the liaison between PTSO and student council and keeps PTSO members informed of students concerns or ideas.

Section 8

The Parent Representatives of Elementary, Middle School and High School keep PTSO members informed of parent concerns and/or ideas.

---

Article VI:

Meetings

Section 1

PSTO meetings will be held a minimum once a quarter, preferably on a fixed day each month (e.g., 1st Tuesday, 2nd Wednesday, etc.). PTSO meetings will be open to all members.

Section 2

Special PTSO meetings shall be called by the President and/or two or more ExCo officers with adequate notice.

Section 3

A quorum will consist of those present. There will be one vote per PTSO member. Unless stated other- wise, PTSO decisions will be decided by majority voting.

Section 4

Executive Council (ExCo) meetings are for the elected ExCo members only. Others may attend by invitation only from an Executive Council member.

---

Article VII:

Committees

Section 1

Committees, standing or special, will be appointed by the ExCo as and when required.

Section 2

Each committee will make reports to the ExCo and will submit a written report on its annual activities.

---

Article VIII:

Amendment of By-laws

Section 1

Proposed amendments should be forwarded to the Secretary of the ExCo, who will include it on the agenda for deliberation and voting at the next PTSO meeting. These by-laws can be amended at a board meeting and approved at a general meeting of the PTSO by a simple majority vote of the quorum as defined in section IV of the by laws.

Section 2

Copies of these By-laws will be available on the school PTSO website.

---

Article IX:

Dissolution

In the event of dissolution of the PTSO, any funds that have accrued to the PTSO’s account will be placed in a school account which will be held until a new parent organization is established or as determined by the School Director and Advisory Board.

 

School Year 2018-2019

Cathy AlObaid	President
Dr. Dalal AlOmar	Vice President
Liesl Cheney	Elementary School Representative
Hessa Alrashid	Secretary
Dr. Juliet Dinkha	Middle School Representative
Dr. Mashael Alomar	Treasurer
Dina Al-Waheab	High School Representative

• First Meeting—September 26^th, 2016 at 1:00 p.m

Location: Middle School Building G-15

• PTSO Board Elections—October 5^th, 2016 at 1:00 p.m

We are honored to announce AUS has earned 10 year accreditation by the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools and The Council of International Schools

 

As of spring, 2018, American United School (AUS) was awarded duel accreditation from the Council of International School (CIS) and Middle States Association (MSA). This stellar accomplishment makes AUS one of the few American schools in Kuwait with this illustrious title. The visiting team was very impressed with the entire school community. They praised AUS for its creativity, innovation, and commitment to excellence. As a result, AUS was granted a 10 year accreditation.

Accreditation Certificates:

• CIS Accreditation Certificate
• MSA-CESS Accreditation Certificate

 

CIS Documentation

• The Governance Continuum
• Standards and Indicators - 8th Ed (V8.2)
• School Improvement Continuum
• AUS - 2015 Membership Visit Outcome Letter
• AUS - 2016 Award of Candidate Status for CIS Accreditation
• Explaining CIS Evaluation and Accreditation - 8th Ed (V8.2)
• CIS Accreditation Letter
• CIS Accreditation Certificate

MSA-CESS Documentation

• MSA-CESS Accreditation Letter
• MSA-CESS Accreditation Certificate

 

Endicott Survey & School Climate Survey

• AUS Self Study Survey
• Comprehensive School Climate Inventory