DO SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAMS MATTER?
YES. A lot. The idea behind SDLTs is that we are professionals whose commitment and expertise can create the best possible schools.
The SDLTs—Shared Decision Making Leadership Teams—are the result of negotiations to ensure that educators are involved in the key decisions of our schools. They are one way that we ensure that our role is as PROFESSIONALS—experts who exercise our professional judgment, not just implementers of the decisions made by others. Our elected SDLT members are school DECISION-MAKERS, not simply advisors to the principal. They are actual DECISION-MAKERS, not just advisors.
SDLTs decide how decisions will be made—or make the decisions directly—in “work that will support the mission of improving student achievement,” a very broad category of decisions. SDLT members also decide on development of the School Improvement Plan (the school’s plan); how to use building funds; what we do on SIP and SITE Days; the school’s Technology Plan; use of the Building Inservice Funds (which is a substantial amount of money) to support professional development, and more.
In our Agreement, the specific contract language is in Article 17, on pages 23-26. In addition, the role of Department Heads is in Article 25, on pp 67-69. It’s helpful to read the actual language. (Click here for our current CBA.) The role of SDLTs (with stipends) was first established in our 2006-2008 Agreement, so we’ve had them for about 6 years.
HERE IS HOW THESE DECISIONS ARE TO BE MADE, AS DESCRIBED IN OUR AGREEMENT:
- SDLTs draft a written decision-making process for the school, to be submitted to the full staff for approval by October 1 of each year. This document is to include:
a) How decisions of varying kinds will be made (by consensus, voting, consulting, command/principal decision, etc.—by the full staff, or by Depts, or by the SDLT, or other
b) How SDLT members are accountable to the staff (e.g. Dept. meetings,...)
c) Calendar of regular and open meetings; and d) How agendas will be made and how staff will be kept informed. - Most important decisions are covered under this staff-approved process. These decisions include:
a) Those that affect student achievement, school climate, and effectiveness;
b) Use of Building Discretionary Funds; Building Inservice Funds; Department Head days; and Substitute days for release time;
c) Scheduling and use of Site Days;
d) Professional development decisions;
e) School operating principles;
f) Input in staffing decisions and departmental issues (Note that this one is input only—not final authority like the others); and
g) Input in faculty meeting agendas (again, this one is input only.). This decision-making process covers all school decisions, except those governed by law, School Board policies, District-wide course alignments across grade levels and schools; or other parts of our Collective Bargaining Agreement.
- The SDLT (unless there is a waiver for the year) consists of elected Department Heads: 6 in elementary; 9 in Junior High and 12 in High School. They are elected by secret ballot. (Article 25.3)
- Department Heads are nominated (or self-nominated) by the certificated employees (not the Principals) at the school. NSEA Building Reps and the Principal cooperate to organize a secret ballot election. Terms are for one year, without term limits. This is an actual leadership role—not a lightweight role. As a result, the stipend, $2,615, is significant (and includes all Department Head duties described on p. 69). NSEA encourages staff to elect Department Heads based on their leadership abilities, not by custom, seniority, or relationship.
- Our Agreement states that elections are to be held by June 1.
- We suggest that staff vote only in the department relevant for the majority of their classes. If staff are in more than one school, they should vote in the school that they are in for the majority of their time.
