Decision Process

	NORTH CENTRAL CHARTER essential school	1 Oak Hill Road Fitchburg, Massachusetts 01420 Phone: 978.345.2701 FAX: 978.345.9127 [email protected]
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The Process

At NCCES, we strive to make decisions in as democratic a way as possible while still being able to function efficiently on a day to day basis. Therefore, we�ve established these pathways described below that involve many people in making some of our most important decisions and other groups in making more specialized decisions.

Issues are raised and discussed in various groups and settings throughout the school community.
Airtime and problem-solving lead to formal proposals.
Proposals go to the Agenda Committee, comprised of the Directors, two student leaders, a parent representative, and possibly a faculty member. This group picks the path.
Whatever decision-making body gets selected, that body has full authority to make the decision.
All groups will start from the same NCCES decision-making protocol:
a. State the proposal
b. Clarify
c. Discuss pros and cons
d. Check against NCCES mission/vision
e. Decide by vote or by consensus
Once the decision is made, it will stand for at least three months before changes can be proposed.
If there is a split vote by constituency, a compromise committee may be convened to revise the proposal and resubmit it.

The Pathways

FOR EVERY DAY SCHOOL LIFE

FOR PROPOSALS AND ISSUES
The Pathways Committee

Schools are fast-moving places and decisions happen all the time. These kind of day to day matters only go to the pathways when a larger issue or policy is at stake. Otherwise, the groups below will make their own decisions.
� Directors
� Leadership Team
� Teachers
� Grade level teams
� Students
� Student Organizations
� Parents
� Parent Organizations
� Board of Trustees
� Board Subcommittees

Whole School Issues

(policy and governance)

Board of Trustees

State law, the Charter, hiring, the decision-making process, core program issues

Student Advisory Council

Representative body of students. Student life and setting norms -- not a core, whole community issue.

Compromise Committee

If different constituencies divide to defeat a proposal, a compromise committee will be convened to try to work out a solution. If the compromise gets defeated, the issue is settled for the time being.

Referendum

Big issues that affect core aspects of school life or the school program � needs community involvement

Educator Issues

(operations)

Leadership Team

Day to day issues that the faculty don�t want to be involved with, i.e. state mandates and things that just need to be done

Faculty

Elements of the instructional program that require professional design and affect the whole school

Teams

Issues that can be different for one team without having substantial impact on another team.

Bottom Line

The Directors

There are times when the directors will just have to make decisions. Safety issues, certain disciplinary situations, and other circumstances that are time-sensitive.

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