Re: [Winona] Bianchi

[Karen J. Fawcett]

Title: Bianchi

For many of us in the community who are not involved in the schools, it would be helpful to know more about the site based system. When did it begin? Are all teams based on the same protocol? How are members chosen? What decisions can the teams make?  How do the teams communicate their decisions to the superintendent and the school board? And, most importantly, have they increased parent and staff involvement in the educational process? When I read about charter schools being started by parents, I usually read comments about the opportunity for parents to be closely involved in their children's education. If that need exists in the public schools, are site based teams the solution?    Karen Fawcett ----- Original Message ----- From: Randy Schenkat To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 5:49 PM Subject: [Winona] Bianchi Can we talk about site teams in schools and other work settings??  Steve Kranz said as a Bianchi panelist; "The one that, I think, struck a chord with me most was the reminder that the success of learning in a school depends, more than anything else, on the teachers -- and that the care and nurturing of an environment that supports them is one of the single most important things a school system can do." Eric Bartleson said, "But we can control how we treat and honor our professionals."(both Steve and Eric's full statements are easily retrived at  www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org ) . Scott Lowery wonders,"how about revitalizing the site based management system?" He goes on and says,  "Ideally, this is a shared decision-making structure that leads to the kind of community feeling and innovation-friendly autonomy which Bianchi apparently advocates. However, our system does not have a very strong requirement for power-sharing built into its site teams. I think that Board members and district administrators may sometimes forget that it can be risky for staff to participate fully in site teams when the potential for conflict with a supervisor exists." What are  On Line Democracy members experiences with site based management in schools or in your work places?  Do you have any sense of what other teachers, parents or community members think?   Are functioning site based teams a way to honor our professionals and and support teachers?   Do teachers want  site based teams?   -- Randy Schenkat   1358 Skyline Dr. Winona, Mn 55987     507-452-7168