Roles of the Communications Council
The District 186 Communications
Council (1998) of Springfield Public School District 186, Springfield, Illinois,
has developed a manual titled Dreaming the School: A Process for Shared
Decision-Making to guide the efforts to move decision-making power to the
schools. The following excerpt discusses the roles of the Communication Council.
"RolesThe Communications Council will meet on a regular basis to assist and support individual learning communities as they implement shared decision-making. The Communications Council will serve in an advisory capacity.
Among its responsibilities, the Council will:
- Draft a document to inform all stakeholders.
- Establish parameters for shared decision-making.
- Review waivers and make recommendations on ways to proceed.
- Provide technical assistance to individual site leadership teams.
- Locate resources and training.
- Encourage and strengthen support in shared decision-making throughout the district.
- Encourage and discuss ideas to improve teaching and learning.
- Listen to and learn from all stakeholders.
- Develop a communication/information system throughout the school district.
The Communications Council is not a regulatory body, nor does it replace the roles of the superintendent, school board, or collective bargaining groups." (p. 6)
