1. Putnam County Charter School Governance Training
Consensus Building/School Calendar
Presenters
Dr. Susan Usry & Beth Bacon
Putnam County Charter System
12/19/2019

2. Agenda Discussion of Consensus Building
Discussion of building a School Calendar
Putnam County Charter System
12/19/2019

3. Consensus Building
Consensus means overwhelming agreement. And is the product of a good-faith effort to meet the interests of all stakeholders. The key indicator of whether or not a consensus has been reached is that everyone agrees they can live with the final proposal; that is, after every effort has been made to meet any outstanding interests.
Putnam County Charter System
12/19/2019

4. Importance of Census Building
Problems exist that affect diverse groups of people with different interests.
Difficult and ineffective for organizations to try to solve controversial problems on their own.
Offers individuals and organizations the opportunity to collaborate on solving complex problems in ways that are acceptable to all.
Takes time, but develops solutions that hold up through time.
Stakeholders always possess a wide range of understandings or perceptions of a problem.
Putnam County Charter System
12/19/2019

5. Stages of Consensus Building
Identifying and clarifying the objective
Gathering information
Establishing a time line
Discussing options
Making a decision
Discussion with stakeholders for agreement
Approving decision
Implementing plan
Monitoring implementation
Evaluation (ongoing)
Revisions or develop an exit plan
Putnam County Charter System
12/19/2019

6. Benefits of Consensus Building
Increases the quality of solutions, because solutions are based on a comprehensive analysis of the problem
Guarantees that all stakeholders’ interests will be protected
Participation in the problem-solving process will also enhance acceptance of the solution and willingness to implement it
Stakeholders can develop mechanisms for dealing with related problems in the future
Putnam County Charter System
12/19/2019

7. Guidelines for Reaching Consensus
Present position and listen
Not a win lose discussion
Distinguish between objection and confusion
Don’t avoid conflicts
Differences are natural and expected
Involves discussion and accountability of view points
Empowering versus overpowering
Think before you speak
Listen before you object
Putnam County Charter System
12/19/2019

8. Building a School Calendar
Things to know and consider
Holidays
State Assessment Dates
State Guidelines
Stakeholders Preferences
Research concerning Student Achievement and Instructional Time
Things to think about
Year round school
Intercessions
Move on when ready
Time to begin and end the school day
Four-day week
Trimesters
Putnam County Charter System
12/19/2019

9. Discussion
Identify the sacred cows – What change in the school calendar do you think would be unacceptable by the stakeholders?
What change in the school calendar might have an impact on student achievement both positively and negatively?
What key change would you like to see in the school calendar?
Putnam County Charter System
12/19/2019