PETALUMA CITY SCHOOLS
DECISION-MAKING
RESOURCE GUIDE
SHARED DECISION-MAKING
PETALUMA FEDERATION PETALUMA CITY SCHOOLS
DECISION-MAKING RESOURCE GUIDE
The Petaluma City Schools District and the Petaluma Federation of Teachers agree that by working together we can exert a powerful and positive influence on the continued improvement of learning outcomes for all of our students.
We recognize that the most important interactions affecting student performance are those between teachers and students. As accountability for success is assumed by school sites, we believe that teacher involvement in decision making will result in increased student achievement.
Shared decision-making is an integral part of the process of improving student learning. The Federation and the District encourage each school staff to engage collaboratively in designing the teaching/learning model that best meets the needs of students in that school’s community.
This resource guide describes several models of decision-making, including shared decision-making. By using a variety of strategies, and by building a common vocabulary, teachers and administrators will find collaborative ways to solve problems at the school site. To develop an understanding of the decision-making process, there must be sufficient time allocated to planning, implementation and evaluation. The collaborative process will continue to evolve as participants gain experience.
The Trust Agreement Committee is committed to the incorporation of the Decision-Making Resource Guide into Administration Regulations. Therefore, the committee will need continuing feedback from sites and individuals on how the document is being utilized. Anyone may contact the Federation President, District Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent for Administration and Human Services or the Trust Agreement Coordinator with questions, suggestions, or concerns.
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IN A
WIDE VARIETY OF ARENAS
School site councils
Principals’ Advisory Groups
Student Study Teams
Middle School Academic Teams
Faculty Associations/Senates
Academic Departments
Department Chair Committees
School Site Staff Meetings
Subcommittee of School Site Staffs
Trust Agreement Committees
District Budget Committee
Federation Executive Council
Professional Development Committees
K-12 Staff Development Committee
District Hiring Committees
Site Hiring Committees. . . . . . . . .and others
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Process: Process: Process:
The Administrator is Staff generates alter- Administrator makes
equal member of the native solutions to a decision on information
group, not super- problem, reviews s/he deems appropriate.
ordinate. Group uses proposed decision, and Provides explanation for
consensus to reach makes recommendations decision when appropriate.
decisions to administrator who
reports back to staff
with decision and
rationale
Allocation of Teacher assignments Adherence to California
discretionary monies State Education Code
Master schedule
Staff Development Board of Education Policy
Student placement
Curriculum development Administrative Regulations
and/or integration Space allocation
Student discipline
School philosophy Classroom assignment
Site emergency
Restructuring
Dept. Chair selection
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How is the issue identified?
Who will be affected by decision?
Who should be included in the decision-making process?
Who determines the level of involvement?
Administrator alone (upon request s/he will explain reasons for the decision)
Whole group affected by decision (including administrator)
Representative body of group affected by the decision (including the administrator)
Who will make the decision?
Administrator
Whole group
Representative group
How will the decision be made?
Consensus (decision made by group agreement)? Everyone agrees to support, not sabotage, the decision
Consultation (decision made by recommendations to administrator)
Command (decision made by administrator alone)
Group making the decision?
Large group (with small group process if desirable)
Representative group selected by large group
Composition of group depending on issue
Knowledge of issues to be resolved by the process?
Experience and skills as decision makers/problem solvers?
Time constraints?
Physical set up: seating arrangements?
Legal policy, other constraints?
How should the decision be communicated?
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DECISION MAKING PROCESS
Identify the issue to be resolved
Develop norms for decision-making process, e.g.,
Take personal responsibility for participating in the information-gathering and decision-making process
Support the learning process for others by avoiding side conversations
Stay in the moment by attending to and listening to other people’s opinions
3. Gather information – develop common understanding of the content underlying the issues:
Clarify the issues (using brainstorming, jigsawing, among other processes)
Gather factual information
State the beliefs, biases, assumptions involved in the issues
Generate alternative solutions
In whole groups or small groups
Brainstorming
Further research, if necessary
Advocate
Identify pros and cons of alternate solutions
Decide on a solution to the problem
Consider the unintended consequences of the decision as probable outcomes
Create a follow-up process for evaluation and improvement as needed
10. Develop a feedback/evaluation form in order to improve the decision-making process
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Advocacy Support of a cause or idea
Brainstorming A group process whereby ideas are generated without argument or refutation; intuitive, creative and rational approaches to solutions are encouraged.
Collegial Getting along well with colleagues in a cooperative working atmosphere.
Command Administrator makes decision without input and discussion by the group.
Consensus A process of coming to agreement characterized by rational discussion of the issues until everyone involved in the discussion agrees with the decision, or at least agrees not to obstruct the decision.
Consultation Administrator makes decision with input and discussion by the group.
Criteria Standards on which a decision is based.
Group Norms Agreed-upon rules for discussion and advocacy
Jigsaw A process used to speed up the understanding of a document. The process involves having small groups become expert in a part of the document, and sharing their knowledge with the larger group.
Professionalism The standards, procedures and ethics characterized by those who are educated in a specific body of knowledge.
Shared Decision-Making A process in which team members collaborate, where appropriate, in identifying problems, defining goals, formulating policy, shaping direction, and monitoring program implementation.
Traditional Decision- The administrator makes a decision with little or no input
Making from the staff
Unilateral An action done or undertaken by one side or party only.
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