Ground Rules
For '93/'94, the emphasis will be on grade level, departmental, and curriculum work/coordination.
Our work will be planned and coordinated weekly so as to insure attendance of all key people at grade level, departmental, and curriculum meetings. A planning committee, consisting of six teachers and two administrators, will coordinate the schedule of meetings and activities.
A regular schedule will be developed so everyone knows at what time each month, grade level and department meetings, full faculty meetings, curriculum meetings, etc., will be held. In other words, there will be some kind of "routine" or pattern for the meetings.
Groups working on a special project which requires more time could request more time from the planning committee.
A calendar of meetings taking place and coming up during common planning time will be developed and distributed each week by the planning committee. The calendar will include time and location for each meeting.
An agenda will always be used for every meeting, whether a full faculty meeting or a committee or grade level meeting. Group members will be expected to stick to the agenda: no "birdwalking," no hour-long "gripe sessions."
Each committee will plan the topics for discussion for its next meeting before it leaves the current meeting and is encouraged to select a chairperson responsible for leading the next meeting; committee members are encouraged to share leadership responsibilities among all members.
Minutes will be recorded for every meeting on a "Committee Minutes" form, and compiled in an "activity log." Each committee will be responsible for selecting a recorder and insuring that the minutes get turned in to the activity log. Committees are encouraged to share note-taking responsibilities among all members.
Every staff member must participate on at least one committee.
Attendance is required at grade level and/or departmental meetings.
Each staff member must report to work on time for common planning and arrive at meetings on time.
Meetings will begin on time.
Faculty attendance during common planning time is required. Staff members who must, on an emergency basis, schedule doctor, dentist, or other appointments during common planning time will be charged sick or personal leave time.
Administrators may not give staff members special permission to be late to common planning or to miss common planning for an appointment, etc.
Common planning may not be used by any staff person for: