SITE, Our Decision Making Group
What is SITE, Generically Speaking?
Under Article 25 of the Leon County Teachers Association Master Contract, a school may elect to use a process of shared decision making, known as Site-Based Decision Making. This process enables a Council, composed of representatives from all segments of the school's community, to participate in decisions that affect the school as a whole. The Site Council maintains a plan, revised annually, that includes: a mission statement, a description of areas dealt with by the Council (including, but not limited to instructional matters, school policies, personnel matters, and budgetary matters), the role of the principal in the decision making process, a model to evaluate its progress, a description of parent and community participation in the Council process, and a description of the Council's relationship to SAC.The contract specifies that, although consensus decision-making is recommended, each Council must provide a fair process for resolving conflicts. In the absence of sufficient consensus, the principal is empowered to make an interim decision. Additionally, the principal is responsible for implementing decisions, coordinating day-to-day operations, and responding to emergencies.
The purpose of SBDM is to give schools more flexibility to improve the quality of education for their students and the quality of the workplace for their staffs, as well as to hold them more accountable for educational outcomes.
How Does SITE Work At Kate Sullivan? What Is It?
Kate Sullivan has a relatively well developed Site Based Management plan that has been in existence since 1990. This eight page document details the specific workings and make-up of the Site Council.The Council is a continuous quality improvement council through which staff, administrators, parents and students are involved in making decisions about school-wide issues. These significant issues must meet the criteria of being school-wide in scope, and relating to policy, procedures, goals or evaluation. The term "continuous quality improvement" is used here to mean making improvements as needed and when needed in order to maintain high quality.
Who Is On It?
Site Council membership consists of 14 members: the principal, the chair, one LCTA representative, eight teachers (one of whom is elected co-chair), one non-instructional staff and two parents (one of whom is the PTA president). Each representative is selected by their group. Co-chairs, one of whom must be a teacher, are elected by mid-May of the preceding year.SAC is a standing committee of the Site Council, with the principal and Site chair being members of SAC.
How Are Decisions Made?
The Site Council uses a team shared decision making model. Procedures used encourage openness, input, involvement, and ownership by all the stakeholders. Agenda items are assigned to a task force for research and study; contribution from the stakeholders are sought, and opposing views are recognized. Decisions should be as near consensus as possible. Voting is used when necessary, with members of the Council voting for the good of the school as a whole. In the absence of a sufficient consensus or a clear majority, the principal can make an interim decision while the group works to resolve its impasse.When Does SITE Meet?
The Site Council meets on Tuesday afternoons during the school year. Notice of each meeting and an agenda are posted on the Site board in the workroom. All interested persons may attend.How Are Issues Brought To SITE?
Issues or concerns may be submitted on an Agenda Request Form by any stakeholder. The Agenda Committee, composed of the principal, chair and co-chair, reviews each request to ensure that it is within the scope of the Site Council. Once on the agenda, a charge can be developed and a task force assigned. The task force will include at least one Site member, one faculty member not on Site and one parent. Notice of task force meetings are posted on the Site bulletin board. The task force produces a written report which is voted on at a Site meeting.If an issue requested to be placed on the agenda does not qualify as an item within the scope of SITE, then (1) the request is referred to the principal for a decision or recommendation; (2) the procedure already in place to address the request is noted; or (3) the request is referred to a standing committee.
Last updated 1/18/07.