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Shared Decision Making: Moving Forward Together. Minneapolis Public Schools Site Council Training Presented by Office of Student Support, Family & Community Engagement December 13, 17, 19, 2007. WELCOME!. Objectives for today: Provide an overview of the MPS shared leadership model
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Shared Decision Making:Moving Forward Together Minneapolis Public Schools Site Council Training Presented by Office of Student Support,Family & Community Engagement December 13, 17, 19, 2007
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
What is Shared 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.
Theory of Action:If all adults of the Minneapolis Public Schools community learn and work together in a positive environment to meet student learning needs, then student achievement will increase.
Strategy to Achieve the Theory of Action: 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.
Build CAPACITY …across the district. • Stakeholders • Staff • Students • Parents • Community • Systems • Decision Making • Accountability • Communications • Data use Culture Culture • Resources • Time • People • Money • Information Culture
The 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.
“People whose lives are affected by a decision must be a part of the process of arriving at that decision.” • John Naisbitt, Megatrends
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.
Site 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)
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
Power Shared is Power Gained. • Teachers, administrators and parents are strengthened through the synergy that results when they share power with one another.
Role & Responsibility of Site Council: ▪ Improve Student Achievement▪ Accountable for Results
Characteristics of Successful Site Councils • 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).
Discussion: What are some things your site council is doing to improve student achievement?
Remember… • Federal, State and MPS Board of Education policies on curriculum, instruction, assessment and funding restrictions must be followed.
Role & Responsibility of Site Council Members: ▪ Contribute to the Success of the Site Council
Characteristics of Site Council Members • 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
Role & Responsibility of Site Council Chair/Co-Chair: ▪ Provide Strong Leadership
Characteristics of Site Council Chairs • 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
Role of Principal/Site Administrator on Site Council: ▪ Focus for Accountability Principals are held accountable through • licensure • formal hiring process • principals’ contract • principals’ job description • principals’ evaluation process
Characteristics of Principals on the Site Council • 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
Role & Responsibility of Teachers/Staff on Site Councils ▪ Source of Expertise Essential for Academic Achievement
Characteristics of Teachers/Staff on the Site Council • Offer their knowledge and skills to the team • Review and interpret data
Developing 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.
Site Council Decision-Making • Review the handout. • Which do you think describes your Site Council now?
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.
Voting works when… • 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.
Subgroups work when… • 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
One person decision making works when… • 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.
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?
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” • Henry Ford
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