PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE CHEROKEE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
AND
THE CHEROKEE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
This agreement entered into on this 16th day of March, 2017 by and between The School Board of Cherokee County, Georgia hereinafter referred to as “School Board,”
And
The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, herein after referred to as “The Chamber.”
WHEREAS, the School Board’s mission is to educate the emerging generation through learning environments designed to increase the performance of all students, and
WHEREAS, one of the School Board’s Major System Priorities is to increase parental and community involvement through public engagement policies and practices that treat parents, businesses, community-based organizations and agencies, local institutions of higher learning and other public entities as true partners in the educational process, and
WHEREAS, The Chamber wants its members to get more involved with educating children about business-management, workforce readiness, career skills, personal training and other issues; and,
WHEREAS, the methods for involvement are detailed in the Agreement below.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and conditions set forth herein the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
The parties agree that the foregoing recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference.
ARTICLE II
The Chamber will recruit members to assist with the Programs below:
1. Partners in Education Program
The Partners in Education Program encourages Chamber members to partner with schools. The Chamber will ensure that there are partners in the program for all public schools under the auspices of the School Board. The Chamber will recognize excellence in partnerships for both schools and businesses. The Board will ensure that each partnering school has as its point of contact a principal or other staff member. The principal will participate with the Chamber’s representative in a goal-setting session with business partners and cooperate with the Chamber in an evaluation of each partnership for that school, recognizing that each arrangement is intended and designed to increase student achievement and school effectiveness. The Chamber will provide assistance training to all principals, or his or her designated point of contact, and business partners involved in the Partners in Education Program.
2. Retired Faculty, Staff & Administrator Recognition
To show appreciation to retiring educators, administrators and staff, the Chamber, through business sponsorship support makes a donation for the purchase of books in the retirees’ honor to the Sequoyah Regional Library System. Books include a label noting it was given in honor of those educators, administrators and staff who retired during the previous school year.
3. Going Green Education
The Chamber will coordinate a recycling competition, which provides environmental education resources to elementary school classes.
4. Career Fairs
The Chamber schedules business members to speak in each middle school in the county during a weeklong event which is designed to educate eighth-graders on career opportunities in Cherokee County
5. Teen Leadership Cherokee
Teen Leadership Cherokee open to 10th graders residing in Cherokee County and coordinated by The Chamber, is designed to identify and develop young leaders and to enhance their leadership ability through a series of in-depth programs.
6. Field Trips to Businesses
Members of The Chamber would serve as guides through their businesses to help students to understand the importance of economic development and workplace issues.
7. Classroom Speakers
The Chamber’s Online Business directory serves as the Speakers Bureau list. Employees of members of The Chamber will serve as classroom speakers on requested topics as well as providing technical assistance to teachers, parents, and students.
8. Other Projects
The Chamber will also assist the Board by providing information to businesses about other school-related activities, including, but not limited to, the opportunity to serve as Senior Project and career mentors, provide support for school activities and events, serve as contest and Senior Project judges, and assist with and support athletic activities and clubs.
ARTICLE III
The School Board will provide:
1. Liaison Support:
Appropriate staff will be identified, for The Chamber members in each area of the partnership. These liaisons will help connect interested Chamber members with schools. A specific liaison will be provided by the School Board to the Partners in Education Committee of the Chamber and serve as a voting member of the Committee.
2. Recognition
The School Board will provide recognition for individual members and The Chamber as a whole through its existing channels of communication, as permitted by School Board Policy.
3. The School Board will ensure that each public school in Cherokee County has a liaison to be fully accessible to the school’s business partners and The Chamber’s Partners in Education Committee liaison to that school. The School Board, through the principal or her or his designee, will fully support and participate in the activities of the Partners in Education Program.
4. The School Board will provide to The Chamber information about the Cherokee County education system and its programs and serve as a full partner in enhancing the economic well-being of the community.
5. Shall encourage principals to invite area business leaders and members of the Chamber Board of Directors to visit schools and attend lunch at school sites periodically.
ARTICLE IV
The Board and the Chamber agrees to a waiver of Facility Use fees based on reciprocal use of these facilities and abide by the rules and regulations contained in the Facility Use contract at each facility and those contained in the Community Use of System Facilities Policy (KG) with a maximum of three uses per party. All other fees associated with the use of facilities will apply (supervisory, custodial, security, etc.).
ARTICLE V
Each Party agrees to be fully responsible for its acts of negligence, or its agent’s acts of negligence when acting within the scope of their employment and agrees to be liable for any damages resulting from said negligence. Nothing herein is intended to serve as a waiver of sovereign immunity by any agency to which sovereign immunity may be applicable. Nothing herein shall be construed as consent by an agency or political subdivision of the State of Georgia to be sued by third parties in any matter arising out of any contract.
ARTICLE VI
Neither party shall discriminate against any employee or participant in this program because of age, race, color, disability, gender, marital status, national origin or religion. Affirmative action shall be taken to insure equal treatment without regard to age, race, color, disability, gender, marital status, national origin, religion, or other considerations arising from the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Both parties shall accept all children/interested participants for participation within its programs without regard to their gender, race, political affiliation, age, national origin or handicapping condition or any other discrimination recognized and prohibited by State or Federal Law. Children/participants with handicaps must be provided all necessary levels of supervision and must be included within the activities of the partnering organization. As a result of this partnership agreement, the Chamber must adhere to all local, State or Federal laws regarding education.
ARTICLE VII
There is no financial impact to the School Board of Cherokee County, Georgia for this Partnership Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
The term of this contract is March 16, 2017 through March 16, 2018. This contract shall automatically renew for additional terms not to exceed five years unless either party notifies the other at least 60 days prior to renewal date.
ARTICLE IX
This contract may be terminated by either party upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other party with or without cause. All notice of this contract shall be given to the Superintendent of the School Board of Cherokee County, Georgia, at 110 Academy Street, Canton, Georgia, 30114, and to the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, 3605 Marietta Highway, Canton, Georgia, 30114.