One of the most powerful and dramatic ways that St. Paulites participate in local budgeting is through site-based decision making councils at each of our 70+ schools. Site councils are made up of the principal, staff, parents, community members, and some senior high students. They make decisions on staffing, school budgets, capital improvement priorities, and curriculum or small learning communities, etc., aligning the school's work with the district action plan, and monitoring to assure student achievement. We're currently adding ELL pilots and rolling out special education funding over the next few years.
St. Paul has been at this for over 15 years, and with major support from McKnight grants in the last few years to support extensive site-based training, we've now moved more authority and responsibilities to sites than all but a handful of districts in the country. Several hundred people are involved each year to help frame the school portion of a total budget that is bigger than the city's, and site councils can be tremendously proud of the great work they've done over the years. Thanks! -- Anne Carroll, St. Paul School Board ------------------------------------------------------------ Anne R. Carroll Carroll, Franck & Associates Public Involvement, Strategic Planning, Communications 1357 Highland Parkway St. Paul, MN 55116 USA [EMAIL PROTECTED] 651-690-9162 School Board: 651-690-9156 "The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice." -- Martin Luther King, Jr. "...You will be more credible and you will be more powerful if you do not separate the lives you live from the words you speak." -- Paul Wellstone "A politician worries about the next election. A true states[wo]man worries about the next generation, and children yet unborn." - e.e. cummings _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
