Decision Making ModelStillwater Area Public Schools

What is the Purpose of a Decision Making Model?

Increase: Efficiency Creative Thinking Provide Clarity for the process

Decrease Confusion Inefficiencies (i.e. time, excess resources,

etc)

District ComparisonMinnetonka Edina Minneapolis Mounds View -No Current decision making model.-Assigned committees for specific tasks/duties.-Each committee presents to the superintendent.

-Developed a system through TeamWorks-Decision Making Model is a policy #110-Roles are defined (i.e. teacher, school psych, coach, principal, etc)-Description of decision making terms-Matrix provided giving responsibilities and actions for each committee and topic-District will provide training for decision making model-Description provided for education leadership system-Decision Making Model process flow chart given for Input, Governance, Management

-No current decision making model in place-District has been in the process of developing a model, will be released to public sometime this spring-Currently each department is given roles/responsibilities-The assigned department gathers input and comes up with options-Options are presented to the superintendent and school board-Once approved, the decision in implemented the following year

-Worked with TeamWorks to develop decision making model-Each Topic/issue divided up depending on policies and department/committee linked to policy-Hierarchy developed giving responsibility for topics/issues

District Comparison

Shakopee White Bear Lake Spring Lake Park-Uses TeamWorks with developing their Strategic Plan-5 Committees are put together to assist with the Strategic Plan-No Real Strategy for decision making-Each committee researches issues related to their areas, then presents to superintendent-

-Could not find any decision making model-Similar to Minnetonka strategy-Each committee looks at issue and researches and presents to superintendent

-Couldn’t find any documentation but system similar to Mounds View-Each department is given roles and responsibilities to address issues-They collect input and present to the superintendent-No detail about oversight or implementation

What did I learn?When Roles/responsibilities are defined and

clarified, efficiency goes up.

Districts like Edina, Mounds View, Shakopee, and Spring Lake Park went through TeamWorks Inc to help with their areas of concern.

With a decision making model we can spend less time figuring what to do and how to do it, while spending more time finding possible solutions “What if?” thinkers (Courtesy of IdeaPad).

Multi-department committee could be beneficial for each area

Goals/Recommendations With oversight from the leadership team:

Design a decision making modelA flow chart to explain the decision processA grid to clarify roles/responsibilities A communication strategy for committees/advisory

levelsIncorporate creative thinking into the processSystem for implementation and oversight

Special Thanks to….. Dr. Julie Goldsmith and Dennis Cheesebrow

TeamWorks Inc

Dr. Corey Lunn

Dr. Ric Dressen

Superintendent Edina Public Schools

Executive Director Meredith Fox

Minneapolis Public School

Dr. Dennis Peterson

Superintendent Minnetonka Public Schools

Dr. Michael Lovett

Superintendent White Bear Lake Schools

Dennis Bloom

Director of Operations Stillwater Area Schools

Jim Link

The IdeaPad