Being Invited to the Table Does Not Mean You Get to Eat: Balancing Individual Accountability and Participatory Decision-making in Site Based Management

Abstract

The school featured in this case is a composite of several schools visited by the authors. The story we tell highlights the inherent contradictions faced by educators in trying to weld participatory decision-making into a hierarchical structure. The case opens discussion on leadership style, organizational effectiveness, conflict management and community building. Depending on the interest of the group, the case can be presented as a problem-based learning activity that may require students to develop agendas, create school improvement plans and be involved in role playing, for example, conducting a site-based council meeting.