Re: [Winona] Bianchi

[Sharon Ropes]

Title: Bianchi

Thanks for getting the Bianchi ball rolling again, Scott.  It is a curiosity that only one WOD member (besides the panelists and moderators) had posted any Bianchi thoughts before your note.....     Karen asked some important basic questions about site teams.  Thanks for reminding us that readers outside education circles may be unfamiliar with the concept of building management.      These teams were created to acknowledge that schools are complex communities of many different people, different jobs, different interests, needs, etc.  The underlying idea is that decisions about building activities and policies will be wiser if everyone affected by the decision is involved in the process.  For example, many decisions affect not only the classrooms but also the janitors and the kitchen staff and secretaries - so they better be included in a comprehensive school plan.       I am currently on the WSHS site team, so I will speak about that building.  Procedures might be a bit different at other schools.   At the high school, we include student representatives.  The faculty members are elected by fellow teachers in a formal process of candidates and balloting.  The students are Student Council members -usually the President.  PTA selects its own rep by simply asking active members.   Parents and community representatives are sought out by site team members.  Dick referenced how difficult it is to get parent and community involvement.  Over the years, I know site team openings have been publicized thru newsletters, word of mouth, district committees, etc.     Each building's site team has its own character based on member personalities, relationships within the building and current events.  Ideally, the site team discusses any building-related issue and uses consensus to create a positive goal or solution.  This past year, for example, our agenda has such simple things (like handicapped parking line re-painting) to complex issues (like a long-term review of the four period day).     Are there other current or former site teams members who can fill in more of Karen's questions?    Sharon Erickson Ropes      ----- Original Message ----- From: Karen J. Fawcett To: Winona Online Democracy Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2003 6:09 AM Subject: Re: [Winona] 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