ARTICLE XXVII:      SCHOOL-BASED MANAGEMENT/SHARED DECISION-MAKING

Section 1:       Building Level Planning Team

            A.    The “established structure” of Building Level Planning Team shall be defined and approved through the joint cooperation of the principal, faculty, and union by May 15 of each year if changes are made.  The established structure shall be posted in a district shared folder, as well as printed in each school’s teacher handbook.  A maximum of two (2) teachers shall be appointed “at large” by the principal. All other supplemented BLPT members will be elected by their respective teams (Cluster, department, grade level, etc).    All elections held in connection with the building level planning team shall be conducted and tabulated in an open manner in accordance with procedures developed by the building level planning team and approved by the faculty at each school site. Building Level Planning Team elections shall be completed no later than the teachers’ last day.  Such teams are required at each school center for the purpose of assessing the school's needs and determining the use of the school's resources and any changes deemed necessary in the school's curriculum and instructional program.

            B.         The building level planning team shall serve in an advisory capacity to the principal who shall make the final determination with respect to all matters discussed among team members.  The principal and/or designee shall act upon recommendations of the building level planning team.  A progress report shall be made to the planning team at the next planning team meeting.  If additional time is needed to act upon recommendations, the principal shall so notify the planning team at this meeting.  If the principal decides not to act upon specific recommendations of the planning team, the explanation for such decision shall be given to the planning team members at the next meeting and reported in the minutes.  In the event the planning team is not satisfied with the explanation, the members may, by a majority vote, request a review by the Superintendent or designee, who will meet with the principal and planning team and report back to them within thirty (30) days.

            C.        The school principal shall be the chairperson of the building level planning team unless he/she does not wish to serve in this capacity.   In this case, the chairperson shall be selected by the team members.  The Assistant principal shall serve as the vice chair.

            D.        Meetings shall be held as necessary to enhance the effective operations of the school.  However, a minimum of one (1) meeting each month shall be held unless the members of the BLPT agree to cancel.  Tentative agendas for each regular planning team meeting shall be distributed by email at the school site at least one (1) day before the meeting.  Any member of the faculty may attend planning team meetings, but he/she must inform the chairman prior to the beginning of the meeting if he/she wishes to address an item on the agenda.  Minutes of all meetings of the building level planning team shall be distributed by email to the faculty members and the district office within one (1) week of the meeting.