I know that the original intent was to get rid of the "good old boy" system of administrators hiring their friends, but is this way any better? I don't think so. I don't think it's in the best interests of kids when decisions are made regarding school personnel are made by people with little/no experience in the teaching profession.

Any thoughts?

I am 100% in favor of Site Based Decision Making Councils. I prefer giving parents at least an equal voice to the teacher's union when it comes to the management of the schools.

The teachers and administrators studied for years and years regarding methods and procedures of teaching. Parents throw out an opinion based on their experience with their one (or two children). Educators have the knowledge to make decisions based on studies involving thousands and thousands of children. I don't agree that parents in general are as well prepared to make decisions in the best interests of the overall student body.

The teachers and administrators studied for years and years regarding methods and procedures of teaching. Parents throw out an opinion based on their experience with their one (or two children). Educators have the knowledge to make decisions based on studies involving thousands and thousands of children. I don't agree that parents in general are as well prepared to make decisions in the best interests of the overall student body.

Teachers, administrators, and parents have different sets of conflicts of interests that tend to offset each other. Parents and taxpayers are major stakeholders in our school systems and they were shut out of decisions affecting their children and communities for way too long. They are not going to quietly surrender their position at the table, nor should they.

I have served on our school's SBDMC many times. Parent members only account for 2 of the six seats, so they do not have a majority, or even an equal standing. I believe that teachers and parents deserve a voice, in addition to the principal, in making important school decisions.

I have served on our school's SBDMC many times. Parent members only account for 2 of the six seats, so they do not have a majority, or even an equal standing. I believe that teachers and parents deserve a voice, in addition to the principal, in making important school decisions.

 

Doesn't the principal hold most the power on the Site Based?

Doesn't the principal hold most the power on the Site Based?

 

Yes. The principal has the final say in the hirings, in particular. He/she actually only need discuss the choices with the council. In other areas, the other members have more room for input.

Yes. The principal has the final say in the hirings, in particular. He/she actually only need discuss the choices with the council. In other areas, the other members have more room for input.

 

Doesn't that create a conflict when 3 of the members are working for the principal. I know that in my job if I continuously disagreed with my boss, I'd have a real good chance of having the opportunity to be looking for a new boss.

The only thing the site base has a say so in is the hiring of the principal. The principal has all power other than that.

IMHO,the SBDMC only took the politics out of the Hands of the Superintendent and put it into the hand of the principal. You have to remember...the Superintendent has NO VOTE in the board room and MUST abide by all decisions of the board in regards to budget,policy and procedure and constitutional matters.

Furthermore,he is required BY LAW to hire the principal selected by the council.

 

The principal has the final say in all matters regarding the SBDMC,including the hiring and firing of all personel with the exception of the board personel and the bus drivers.

 

The only thing that has changed is that the 'good old boy' politics has been shifted from the board room to the school house.

 

The potential for abuse is still there...whether it happens or not...the POTENTIAL is still there!

No.

 

Having a family member who served on a SBDMC for 4 years then a BOE member pushing 16 years, I can honestly say no no no no.

 

All a principle has to do is "consult" on any hirings. If you have a bad principle most the time they pass easily as the teachers are afraid to say no and once the parent gets in they realize their child might not like how they are treated if the parent is the one bucking the network, all things get passed.

 

Problems is you can't put the power in corrupt BOE members hands, because there are a lot out there, especially Eastern Kentucky.

 

The bull about BOE members not "influencing the hiring and firing of BOE personnel" is a big fat lie that most do not even know about. Some BOE members promise jobs and threaten jobs at election, to be reported to the OEA by a GROUP teachers, even 30 year Central Office employees only for the OEA to say we really can't do much because its a he said/she said deal.

 

If the OEA had the "teeth" it did 10-12 years ago things would be a lot better but since our great governors cut funding every year corruption has ran rampant. The lady in charge of the OEA in that time period did an absolutely great job and I cannot remember her name.

I don't think it's in the best interests of kids when decisions are made regarding school personnel are made by people with little/no experience in the teaching profession.

Any thoughts?

 

I have always thought the same about school boards.

The one year that I was a member of a SBDMC there were two parent reps, making it a "vocal minority". I definitely felt that I had input and that it was considered, but I was often on the short side of the vote. The biggest issue that we had to consider that year was how to allocate the school's "reward money"; and that decision most definitely went the teachers' way.

 

http://www.nasbe.org/new_resources_section/sii/SII_KY_Schoolbased_Decision_Making_Councils_02.95.pdf

Furthermore,he is required BY LAW to hire the principal selected by the council.

 

The principal has the final say in all matters regarding the SBDMC,including the hiring and firing of all personel !

 

This is not true the Superintendant is the only one with power to hire and fire personell. The principal makes recomendations in these matters but the super is the one that has the power.

This is not true the Superintendant is the only one with power to hire and fire personell. The principal makes recomendations in these matters but the super is the one that has the power.

 

Are you talking about public schools in Kentucky? I was under the impression that the only one the super could fire was (besides his staff) would be the principal.