The GMS parent cooperative is central to the school’s original vision and
essential to its current operation. As a system of work-sharing and in-kind
contribution, the co-op enables GMS
to keep tuition low, keep running costs lower, expand opportunities for famiy
involvement, and provides a rich array
of resources and services.
Each parent or guardian is required to contribute 40 hours over the course
of each year, usually
in the form of a particular "co-op job". Typical jobs cover a range of needed
services—from building
maintenance to lunchtime supervision, from coordination of special events to
substituting for office personnel, from cataloging library books to participating
in curriculum development. The Co-Op Manager works with the school staff and
parent
body to equitably organize,
assign, and oversee these jobs.