Organization

If children are to learn to live responsibly, they must be given the opportunity to share the responsibilities of the community just as the adults do. To this end every child, not matter what his age, ability, or point of view, is a part of the school's governing and decision making process. The school's governing bodies are the School Meeting, the School Assembly, and the Judicial Committee. This organizational arrangement is based on one that has been in continuous use at the Summerhill School in England for over 70 years and at the Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts for over 30 years.

If children are to learn to live responsibly, they must be given the opportunity to share the responsibilities of the community just as the adults do.

School Assembly
The School Assembly is composed of the staff, students, parents whose children have been in attendance for at least one academic year, and interested members of the public who petition the Assembly for admission as friends of the school. The School Assembly is responsible for approving the school's operating budget, tuition, and salaries, for recommending the hiring and termination of staff, and for the granting of diplomas.

School Meeting
The School Meeting is composed of the staff and students of the school. It is responsible for running the school. Meetings, held weekly, follow a modified version of Roberts' Rules of Order. Such rigor keeps discussions focused on the agenda, emphasizes the seriousness of the groups' considerations, and insures that all are heard. School laws are adopted or repealed, corporations are formed, funding determined, judicial reports attended to and serious infractions investigated and addressed with due process. Elections are held for the various offices of the school. Yearly elections are held for the staff positions for the following year. Each child has as much voice in these discussions as any adult. Because they are responsible for the continued existence of the school, the children take this responsibility very seriously. The children are as thoughtful in their opinions and as conscientious as any adult.

Judicial Committee
Although there are several committees responsible for the running of the school, the Judicial Committee deserves special mention. The Judicial Committee is responsible for investigating complaints, mediating between feuding parties, handling violations of the School laws, and meting out justice. It is composed of several students and one staff person; the children, ages 6 to 19, become adept at managing their own affairs with dignity and compassion. The children who feel they have been wronged file complaints which the Judicial Committee hears. The Judicial Committee examines witnesses, listens to defenses, determines guilt or innocence, and sets penalties if appropriate. Defendants may not like the Committee's judgments and may choose to appeal, but in the end, whether acquitted or not, the students accept the decision of the School Meeting because they have learned to accept the responsibility which the freedom they enjoy entails.

Corporations
School corporations are created as interest dictates and when the School Meeting determines they are needed to manage and fund resources or coordinate activities, classes, or projects related to a particular area. For instance, the Art Corporation is responsible for managing the Art Room, purchasing art supplies, "checking out" people to use specialized tools (a procedure whereby a student is certified as being competent to use certain restricted equipment, i.e. the Dremmel tool). The Computer Corporation manages and maintains the computer resources of the school. Anyone can belong to any corporation. No experience in an area is needed, only an interest in its pursuits and in helping the organization to run smoothly and effectively.