WYNANTSKILL UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

                 DISTRICT SHARED-DECISION MAKING PLAN

  REVISED – SEPTEMBER 2006

Approved by Board of Education 9/26/06

WYNANTSKILL UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

SHARED DECISION MAKING PLAN

                                        REVISED 09/06

                               MISSION STATEMENT

The Wynantskill Union Free School District Shared Decision-Making Committee is a cooperative group representing all sectors of the Wynantskill community.  Our goal is to further the mission of the Wynantskill Union Free School District.  To do so, the SDM committee will accept charges from and advise the Board of Education on appropriate matters affecting the district.

The SDM Committee will address the following educational issues as they relate to improvement of student achievement:

a.)  Educational Program

b.)  Professional Development

c.)   Physical Plant

d.)  Parental Involvement

e.)  Health & Safety

f.)  Extra-Curricular and Enrichment Activities

The primary committee shall consist of:                                                       REPRESENTING                             SELECTED BY

· Superintendent                                   Appointed

· Administrators                                   Administration

            · Teachers                                           Wynantskill Teachers’ Association      *

            · Parents                                              Wynantskill Parent-Teachers’      

                                                                        Organization                                           *

            · Other Staff Members                         Wynantskill CSEA                                  *

                                                                        Technical Support Representative

            · District Residents                               Volunteer                                               *

* Up to 3 members

Consulting Members – individuals from various groups of the school community will be consulted as needed by the SDM to address specific issues.

Offices and Responsibilities – the following officers will be selected by the SDM

Committee:

                        Chairperson(s)

                        Vice-Chairperson

                        Secretary/Public Relations

Responsibilities:

Chairperson(s) – Establishes the agenda, runs the committee meetings and insures full representation from all parties.  Reports to the Board of Education on a monthly basis.

Vice-Chairperson – Substitute during the absence of the Chairperson.  Assist the Chairperson in all responsibilities, to include insuring full representation at each meeting.

Secretary/Public Relations  – Records, distributes and publishes the minutes of each meeting to include a summary for the District Newsletter and Website.

Term of Office: Selected annually to a two (2) year term.  Nominations to be made at the May meeting and voted on at the final meeting of the school year.

Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson:  The term of office for the Chairperson will be one year.  The term of office for the Vice-Chair will be two years with the first year serving as the Vice-Chairperson and the second year serving as Chairperson.  This will allow a year of training for the person elected to be Vice-Chairperson.

Secretary/Public Relations:  Elections will be held for a two year term for Secretary/Public Relations.  Every two years thereafter, elections will be held for the two year term of office.

SDM Committee’s purpose is to promote and improve student achievement

when directed by the Board.  The Committee will use the following means and standards to evaluate improvement in student achievement:

1.      Assess student needs (“state of the building” – conduct research, collect data, compare to other schools that are the same size, etc.)

2.      Prioritize needs

3.      Set short and long range achievement goals

4.      Develop criteria for assessing whether or not goals are met

5.      Identify measurement tools to measure success of goals

6.      Design changes or strategies to move toward goals

7.      Implement a “change plan” that includes specific strategies to attain goals

8.      Evaluate the success of changes or strategies

9.      Adjust the plan based upon evaluation

Some examples of student achievement measures that will be reviewed, considered and utilized as they relate to the charge as given to the SDM Committee include: portfolios, standardized tests, other academic assessments, attendance, drop-out rate, parent perception, social/emotional development, self-esteem, New York State standards test results, disciplinary assessment.

Means – refers to what instruments or techniques that are used to evaluate student achievement.

Standards – refers to level of achievement being sought.

The following will be used to determine the means by which all parties will be held accountable for the decisions, which they share in making:

1.) Constituency Representation/Accountability

a.)Regular reporting from committee to constituents.

b.)Soliciting reactions, concerns and opinions from constituent groups.

c.)Bringing constituents’ concerns and opinions back to the SDM  

                         committee for reaction/reflection.

2.) SDM Committee Member Accountability

a.)Attending and participating at meetings.        

b.)Willingness to share the workload.

c.)Agreeing to support the decisions of the SDM committee.

3.) Overall Committee Accountability

a.)Open public reporting through posting of minutes, providing the minutes of past meetings for public inspection and reporting proceedings in the district newsletter and on district website.

b.)Publicizing open regular meetings.

c.)Acting in a professional and timely manner to matters brought before the SDM committee.

d.)Arranging for periodic evaluation of the SDM committee’s work.

The following is the process whereby all disputes presented by the primary committee about educational issues will be resolved:

            Level I – Resolved by Consensus

            By Consensus – agreement must be reached by consensus.  Consensus is

            defined as:

Agreement reached after all members state their views, open discussion has taken place, and compromise (when necessary) has occurred.  These actions will result in a decision, which can be supported by all committee members.

Level II - Dispute is acknowledged through a motion that must be seconded.  Issue is tabled for next meeting at which time a vote is held.  Those voting must have been in attendance at two out of the three previous meetings when the issue was discussed.  Outcome determined by majority of committee.

The Wynantskill Union Free School District SDM will recognize the need and requirements, in some cases, for continued active parental involvement as it relates to state and federal requirements.  Accordingly, consideration of negotiated collective bargaining constraints, Board of Education policies, and administrative regulations will be recognized