Click here for a sample Responsibility Grid, sometimes called a Decision Making Grid.  If your school doesn't have such a document, we strongly recommend developing one and keeping it public and available.  The process of developing the grid (sometimes called a "Decision Grid") will be most enlightening.

Perhaps the most frustrating event in a school meeting is a common one:  discussing and deliberating for hours, only to find that an administrator will be making the final decision.  In fact, administrators make many decisions, and they often ask for input.  However, groups should know from the beginning if their role is advisory or decision-maker. The administrator should make clear who will ultimately be making the decision!

Here are just some of the possible decision makers in a school

• An individual or group above you, such as the Headmaster
• Administrator unilaterally
• Administrator with input
• Administrator and staff by consensus
• Staff, with input from administrator
• Staff by consensus
• Staff by vote
• Subgroup of staff with input from others
• Subgroup of staff unilaterally
• Parents and community
• Students