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I agree, the role and expectations of this committee are unclear to me. This type of planning process requires a committee (such as the one established) comprised of people representing the different stakeholders and whose role is to provide oversight, input, and feedback regarding both the process and key findings/recommendations throughout plan development. However, this type of committee, like any planning co.or board, cannot be the planning workgroup required to develop a comprehensive plan, that is an internal responsibility and should be a small group of professionals with the expertise and experience required of developing this type of plan. As a first step, that workgroup should be presenting a detailed planning process to the larger committee for approval that includes all the steps required with specific timeframes, dates to present key information/findings/recommendations to the larger committee, and opportunities for broader presentation and community input throughout the process. They should also build regular updates(and possibly approvals) to the school committee into their process. One of the committee's first responsibilities should be to review and approve the presented process and determine if all the key elements, in terms of both substance and consensus building, are incorporated. Six months is a tight timeframe for the type of comprehensive plan that our schools require and that the school committee has requested. If a detailed process with all the key elements is not defined and followed, we will be in the same position that we were in regarding the last recommendation and another year behind where we should be regarding planning for the future of our schools. The size of an oversight committee is far less important than the composition. All stakeholders should be represented and many public and private organizations have multiple committees of stakeholders and several levels of approvals for this type of planning engagement to ensure input and consensus.

From: How many is 'too many' on school planning committee

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