Students

Student Handbook
Involvement Process Staff/Student Involvement

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Some students find it hard to get involved for a variety of reasons. Therefore, the School Without Walls community developed the Involvement Process to help each student and staff member to work productively. It consists of a series of conferences in which assistance is given in identifying the problem and a plan is developed to work toward resolution. The charts. on the following pages outline the process.

Student Responsibilities: (Seniors see Senior Handbook for additional responsibilities)

• attend all classes
  
• consistent good faith effort
  
• minimum of 6.25 credits per year
  
• attending scheduled conference with advisor
  
• presenting journal to advisor on a regular basis
  
• actively participate in decision-making
  
• responsibly participate in Community Service
  
• maintain portfolio for Graduation by Demonstration requirements
  
• acting responsibly, peacefully and respectfully throughout the school day

Fulfilling these responsibilities will keep you in good academic standing, which is a requirement for participating in extracurricular activities.

Staff Member Responsibilities:

• be prepared for classes
  
• be available for students conferences at clearly scheduled times
  
• discuss student's school- related problems willingly
  
• Discuss with each student & maintain records of all students' graduation-by-demonstration progress
  
• set a good example
  
• facilitate use of student planners
  
• review journals before conferences
  
• facilitate decision-making activities
  
• monitor Community Service
  
• maintain dialog with parents
  
• participate in Staff and School Based Planning meetings

Principal's Responsibilities:

• continue staff evaluation/supervision
  
• maintain regular communication with the SWW community
  
• be aware of what is going on in school
  
• provide effective leadership
  
• be constructively critical
  
• give help where needed
  
• be supportive of students and staff
  
• protect the autonomy of the school

The Involvement Process will be used for the:

Student: When it appears to a teacher, student, or parent that a student is insufficiently involved or is otherwise not meeting the above responsibilities.

Staff Member: When it appears to a student, staff member, parent, or principal that a staff member is not sufficiently meeting the above responsibilities.

Principal: When it appears to a student, staff member, or parent that the principal is not sufficiently meeting the above responsibilities.

If you do not earn enough credit to get off probation, the school will make a formal recommendation to your parent and/or the Central Office of the City School District that you be transferred to a more appropriate educational placement.

Students on probation may not participate in extra-curricular activities unless agreed to by staff.

Because probation is a very serious matter, the only one that can put you on or take you off probation is the Principal.

Conflict Mediation/Arbitration Model

If you disagree with a staff member about the granting of credit for a class, or about the staff member's evaluation of your performance, or you have any conflict with a teacher or another student that needs resolving, this is the process for working it out.

FACE TO FACE CONFERENCE

THIRD PARTY CONFERENCE

Decision Making

Major school decisions are made by students and staff voting on proposals: one person-one vote. Some decisions must be made by the staff, Principal or School Based Planning Team because of law, education policies of New York State and the City School District, and the spirit and philosophy of School Without Walls.

Decision-making at SWW is a complex process but can be generally explained using the following dimensions of responsibility:

1. When the issue affects only students, any student, staff member, or parent can follow the decision-making process to initiate a proposal for the change. A proposal may be discussed and voted on if and only if 51% of those students enrolled in the school are available to participate. Majority vote among students will determine the outcome, unless there are legal or policy violations, or if the outcome conflicts with previously scheduled activities. (e.g. social events, travel, availability of courses to meet student needs, lunch, fund-raising, clubs, extra curricular activities, sports.) All policy changes will be recorded in a portfolio kept by the school secretary.

2. When the issue affects staff directly (i.e. teaching time, class assignments, roles, purchasing instructional materials and equipment, personal conflicts, teaching strategies to help students attain SWW goals) the entire staff will be responsible. Students or parents may suggest that staff deal with specific concerns at staff or SBPT meetings. Students may also demonstrate their position by using the decision-making process. Staff will seek student input whenever appropriate.

3. When the issue affects the entire school community, the decision will be made by the SWW School Based Planning Team. Although this Team is ultimately responsible for making these kinds of decisions, representatives may, if time permits, seek feedback from their constituencies. Evaluation Form changes will be decided by School Based Planning Team.

4. When the issue is of an emergency nature, the SWW principal will make the decision. The principal will consult with as many appropriate constituencies as possible.

The decision-making process was developed by the school community in 1976 in order to ensure a more effective process that involved the maximum number of students in decision-making.

The process is designed to help students in:

1. defining issues and needs
   
2. presenting their views of problems and/or proposed solutions
   
3. refining rough draft proposals
   
4. coming to a clear understanding of the final proposal
   
5. voting in an informed and reasoned manner
   

For this process to work effectively all of the school must be available at the same time: all extended classes must be in their rooms during the time allotted for school-wide decision making - Friday mornings, 9:30 - 10:30. Proposals may not be distributed after 10:30 AM.

1. Identification of Issues or Needs
   

   1. When an individual or group identifies an issue (i.e. use of drugs or alcohol during school time, control of student-raised money, improving the decision-making process...), it should be raised in extended class during Friday morning decision-making. After the group has examined the issue or has developed a proposal, it can present its concerns to the school body.
   2. Since all groups meet at the same time for the same purpose it is possible for:
      
      1. people from two or more extended classes to form a problem-solving group to write a proposal or identify a problem-
         
      2. two or more groups to meet together, when both agree to, to share concerns and feelings-
         
      3. a group to REQUEST a town meeting which will be held IF and WHEN all groups agree to it. Town meetings are to be held only on Fridays except under extraordinary circumstances.

2. Communicating With the School Body
   Two methods of communicating with the school body for clarification and input are to send representatives to each extended class or to request a town meeting .

3. Refining of Final Proposal
   The group's representatives then return to their Extended Class to examine the concerns and feelings of the rest of the school body. This combined information can then be used to write the final proposal which must be signed by the advisor and the principal. The final draft of the proposal should be checked with the principal to see if it has dealt completely with the issue and that it has been drafted in the appropriate form.

4. Presentation of Final Proposal For a Vote
   Copies of the proposal are to be sent to other extended classes for a final discussion and vote. (The original copy of the proposal MUST be sent to the office for filing.) It is suggested that representatives of the presenting group accompany the proposal to address questions.

5. Tallying of The Vote
   All extended classes must report their vote to the school office by the following Wednesday, where the tally will be made final. Decisions are made on the basis of the grand total of the individual votes and the results are binding on the school community. Again, a proposal may not pass if fewer than 51% of those students enrolled were available to discuss it and vote. This process can take as little as one day. However, complex issues or proposals may take longer.

No extended class or problem-solving group has the right to demand of other groups that they stop doing what they are doing in order to listen to those who call the meeting. They may ask the other groups to come together to identify a concern or explain a proposal.

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SWW Student Handbook Introduction
Goals of the School Without Walls
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