Running Head: WEEK 5 ASSIGNMENTS 1

Week 5 Assignments: Site-based Decision Making, Ethical Dilemmas,

School Board Meeting, and Effective School

DeAndre Carter

Concordia University Texas

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Site- Base Decision Making

1. I read through the 67 page resource guide from 2010 on the TEA website that gives the

overview and guide for the site-based decision making committee. I used pieces of the

TEAs resource guide to construct my SBDM plan for See It Through Academy (SITA).
2. (a) Decisions that improve student achievement and enhance accountability are open to

shared decision making. This includes but is not limited to: facilities, after school

activities, sponsored field trips, Special education services, funding, etc.

(b) Decisions at SITA will be made by voting members of the SBDM committee. The

principal will not have a vote in the process unless it is to break a tie.
(c) Members will be selected from volunteers and appointed people of the community.

Members will be closely related to the bottom level of SITA. Permanent members of the

committee will be the principal, a teacher with minimum 2 years of experience, a veteran

teacher with 5 or more years of experience, local accountant, pastor of local church,

parents, elder of the community.

(d) There will be one team that will work at See It Through Academy (SITA). The team

may break up into smaller groups to tackle certain task and bring them back to the

committee.
(e) District will set some minimum standards for SITA to go by as well as assist with any

questions the SBDM may have that cannot be answered at the campus level. District

personnel will review the goals set by the SBDM committee to determine if the goals are

feasible.
(f) SBDM members must be of the community or school. The expectation is that students

come first in every decision that is made. SBDM committee is to only focus on the issues

of improving student academic achievement not the day to day operations of the school.

3. July: Principal reaches out for volunteers and permanent members of the SBMD

committee to welcome them to a new school year and request best times to meet
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August: Team meets for the first time and discuss the purpose of the committee and

prioritizes top needs of the school based on student achievement being the top goal.

Monthly Meetings to Follow: Team continues to work on budget and begins looking into

next years budget. Team will review all transactions for the previous month

3. The desired outcome for the SBDM Plan is to improve student achievement by

effectively budgeting and appropriating funds in such a way that it boost academic

achievement for all students.

Ethical Dilemmas

1. No I should not attend the reception. Textbook decisions should be based solely on how

the book address a particular need or assist in student achievement. Attending the

reception could be looked at as bribery by outsiders looking in as well.

2. Since the photographer is offering a higher percentage to school equating in more money

for the school, I would allow the photographer to take the picture. Especially since my
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parents are already pleased with his work. One typically must pay a higher cost for a

better product anyway so since the parents are pleased with the work the school should

get as much assistance as possible.

3. I will attempt to increase the score by doing more visit on the teacher. My visits will only

help the teacher get better, thus, improving the academics of our students. I would not

only do this for this particular teacher but for anyone who scores are not reflecting the

type of teaching I want displayed at my school. The more I can go observe the better I

can assist my teachers in delivery of instruction.

4. The school board member has no jurisdiction over the principal (myself) thus I will

attempt to hire the most qualified teacher for the job. I would also ask my immediate

supervisor about the situation to try to get some insight on what I should do about the

board members recommendation.

School Board Meeting

1. I attended a school board meeting on May 23, 2016 for the Desoto ISD Board.
2. (a) The major sections are Board Organization and Operations, Consent Items,

Actions/Discussions, Executive Sessions, Comments, Superintendent.

(b) Elections
(c) All elections votes was decided by a 4-3 vote
(d) There was no executive closed session.
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3. (a) Board meeting was at the Desoto ISD headquarters off Beltline Rd. on May 23, 2016

at 7pm.

(b) Board members sat in the front of the room and the superintendent and cabinet sat to

the right of the board members. The open seating for the public was in front of the board.

(c) Minutes were recorded via computer by the board secretary

(d) Over 50 people were in attendance

4. (a) Superintendent did not speak until his section the board presidents role was to

conduct the meeting using Robert Rules of Order.

(b) The Desoto track team was recognized for winning State.

(c) The board seems to be split 4-3 on every topic. There is a division amongst the board

and unfortunately it appears to be based on race. The 4 African American members vote

together and the 3 White members vote together.

(d) There arent any voting blocks present. The board president does a good job of

staying on the agenda and maintain Robert Rules of Order

5. I was impressed with the amount of people who attended the meeting. I also loved the

fact that they highlight the students for their achievements both athletically and

academically. There seems to be much tension within the board. One board member even

said publicly that the district needs to hire more White teachers. The board president must

stay sharp on keeping order with the board because if he does not I can see the minority

voters attempting to take over the meeting.

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Effective Schools

2. What is the Problem?

The problem is that the economically disadvantaged students are not being educated. This

comes from a thought process from the teachers believing that they do not have the

capacity to learn the material.

What are the effects being manifested?

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Due to the mentality of the teachers, teachers are given a lot of busy work which is not

an effective practice for a 21st century learner.

What creates an exemplary school? What schema will you use?

In order to produce an environment that is beneficial to ED students and 21st century

learners, I must change the mindset of my teachers. As I am working to change the

mindset of my teachers, I am also given them several professional development trainings

over ED students, RtI, and 21st century learning. I am also putting in directives that will

force teachers to change their current methods.

What is the role of the principal in creating an exemplary school?

The role of the principal is to be the instructional leader of the campus first. School is

about student achievement and that must be the first priority of the principal. A principal

must do everything in his power to make sure he is driving instruction for the campus.

What is lacking in this School?

Instructional leadership is lacking in this school as well as a belief in a childs ability. A

child can learn anything if it is taught in a manner that reaches the child. Belief is

something that has to come from within the person. Ones mindset will change once they

either believe in something different or is shown something different. It is up to the

principal to change the culture and climate of the school.

What will you do as a building principal to address each cause?

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I would create a culture and environment to where the teachers are reenergized and

motivated about teaching. I would load them with professional development hours as

well as allow them to visit other teachers who are thriving that have similar

demographics. I would also go to many classes and model what I am looking for myself

so that my teachers understand exactly what I want from them. Teachers who refuse to

change will be put on notice and given letters with directives to begin the paper trail.

3. Overall, the culture of the campus must change in order to move this school forward.

I would begin with professional development over teaching ED students as well as

21st century learning. I would simultaneously begin to change the conversation on the

campus to reflect positivity and focus on what the students can do instead of what we

think they cannot do. I would constantly model the type of teaching I am looking for

and study our progression through accurate data tracking.

References

Sherman, R., & Mixon, J. R. (2009). The principal's companion: A workbook for future school
leaders. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.
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