what is a site council?

Shared Decision Making:Shared Decision Making:Moving Forward TogetherMoving Forward Together

Minneapolis Public SchoolsSite Council Training

Presented by

Office of Student Support,Family & Community Engagement

December 13, 17, 19, 2007

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WELCOME!WELCOME!

Objectives for today:

• Provide an overview of the MPS shared leadership model

• Clarify roles and responsibilities in the decision-making process

• Provide time for teams to reflect on their work together

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What is Shared What is Shared Leadership?Leadership?

It is a process for members of the school community to work together to:

• Improve student achievement

• Define school goals

• Solve problems

• Use the Theory of Action and Minneapolis Way to move toward shared goals.

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Theory of Action:Theory of Action:IIf all adults of the Minneapolis Public f all adults of the Minneapolis Public Schools community learn and work Schools community learn and work together in a positive environment to meet together in a positive environment to meet student learning needs, then student student learning needs, then student achievement will increase.achievement will increase.

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Build capacity across the district in order to:

• establish high-quality, standards-based instruction at every school;

• establish support systems that respond to students’ needs; and

• engage parents and community to contribute to student learning.

Strategy to Achieve the Theory of Action:

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ResourcesTimePeopleMoneyInformation

SystemsDecision Making

AccountabilityCommunications

Data use

StakeholdersStaffStudentsParentsCommunity

Build

CAPACITY…across the district.

Culture

Cul

ture Culture

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The Minneapolis WayThe Minneapolis Way

• Focus first on learning and service.

• Honor individuals for what they bring to the system.

• Create transparency.

• Build productive, collaborative relationships.

• Be accountable.

• Act intentionally and strategically.

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“People whose lives are affected by a decision must be a part of the process of arriving at that decision.”

–John Naisbitt, Megatrends

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What is a Site Council?What is a Site Council?

Team of teachers, staff, parents, principals, and others from a school community who work together to help their school be successful.

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Site Council RequirementsSite Council Requirements

• Reflect the diversity of the school community- must put energy into recruiting a Site Council

• Be no more than 50% district employees

• Include the principal

• Include MFT steward (or an alternate)

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By-Laws By-Laws

At the very least, by-laws should include:

• Size of Council

• Terms of Members

• Member-Selection Process

• Meeting Schedule

• Areas of Focus for the Council

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Everyone has a Role to Everyone has a Role to Play in the Site CouncilPlay in the Site Council

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Power Shared is Power Shared is Power Gained.Power Gained.

• Teachers, administrators and parents are strengthened through the synergy that results when they share power with one another.

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Role & Responsibility of Role & Responsibility of Site Council: Site Council:

▪ ▪ Improve Student AchievementImprove Student Achievement

▪ ▪ Accountable for ResultsAccountable for Results

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• The principal and site council direct adequate resources (financial, time, human) toward family involvement initiatives.

• The principal and site council set high expectations of staff and families to work together to increase student success and academic achievement.

• The principal and site council monitor the results of the school’s initiatives to increase the level and quality of family involvement.

• The principal and site council are approachable and provide opportunities for dialogue with families (for example, monthly breakfasts with the principal).

Characteristics of Characteristics of Successful Site CouncilsSuccessful Site Councils

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Discussion:Discussion:

What are some things your site council is doing to improve student achievement?

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Remember…Remember…

• Federal, State and MPS Board of Education policies on curriculum, instruction, assessment and funding restrictions must be followed.

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Role & Responsibility of Role & Responsibility of Site Council Members: Site Council Members:

▪ ▪ Contribute to the Success of Contribute to the Success of the Site Councilthe Site Council

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• Are active participants• Share responsibility for collaboration• Committed to increasing family &

community involvement• Demonstrate desire to contribute to the

success of each child at the school• Are respectful of others’ ideas and

perspectives

Characteristics of Site Characteristics of Site Council MembersCouncil Members

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Role & Responsibility of Role & Responsibility of

Site Council Chair/Co-Chair:Site Council Chair/Co-Chair:

▪ ▪ Provide Strong LeadershipProvide Strong Leadership

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• Work as a partner with principal and others

• Ability to identify and prioritize issues and set agendas with others

• Ability to create a welcoming atmosphere

• Good understanding of the budgeting process

• Strong facilitator

Characteristics of Site Characteristics of Site Council ChairsCouncil Chairs

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Role of Principal/Site Role of Principal/Site Administrator on Site Council:Administrator on Site Council:▪ ▪ Focus for AccountabilityFocus for AccountabilityPrincipals are held accountable through•licensure•formal hiring process•principals’ contract•principals’ job description •principals’ evaluation process

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• Works collaboratively with all members of the council

• Provides information to inform decisions

• Acts as the final decision-making authority

• Facilitates effective solutions

• Leads the development of school direction & vision

• Responds to stakeholders

Characteristics of Principals Characteristics of Principals on the Site Councilon the Site Council

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Role & Responsibility of Role & Responsibility of Teachers/Staff on Site Teachers/Staff on Site CouncilsCouncils

▪ ▪ Source of Expertise Source of Expertise Essential for Academic Achievement

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Characteristics of Characteristics of Teachers/Staff on the Site Teachers/Staff on the Site CouncilCouncil

• Offer their knowledge and skills to the team

• Review and interpret data

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Developing Group NormsDeveloping Group Norms

• How a group makes decisions, assigns work, and holds people accountable determines team success.

• Adopt group relationship guidelines or group norms early to ensure group success.

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Site Council Site Council Decision-MakingDecision-Making

• Review the handout.

• Which do you think describes your Site Council now?

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Consensus Voting

Subgroup One Person

When does each work When does each work best?best?

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Consensus works when…Consensus works when…• Issues are important, with large

ramifications that affect many stakeholders.

• Small groups work together in general.

• Rich dialogue is possible in real time.

• Group is informed and invested.

• Member support is critical to the decision.

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• Consensus in unlikely in the given time.

• Members are all informed and understand each others’ views.

• It has been determined that the majority can implement without active involvement of those who “lose” in the vote.

• There is a plan for how to engage those who “lose” in the vote.

Voting works when…Voting works when…

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• They have necessary information or expertise to make the decision or recommendation.

• This is the only entity impacted by the decision and can implement it without the active involvement of the majority

• The whole group is truly comfortable delegating the authority to its representatives

Subgroups work when…Subgroups work when…

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• It is an emergency.

• One person has all the relevant information.

• When one person is trusted to make a good decision.

• When the outcome only impacts the decision maker.

One person decision One person decision making works when…making works when…

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Discussion:Discussion:

• Each Site Council is assigned one type of decision-making.

• Discuss: What are some examples of when you have used this type of decision-making?

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Site Council Site Council Tips and IdeasTips and Ideas

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• “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

–Henry Ford

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Thanks for coming and sharing with us today. All of Central Services stand by to help you.

•Academic Affairs Office•Legal Counsel•Student Support Services•Office of Family & Community Engagement