During the stage phase of the conversion, schools take stock of current programs and practices, create a vision for the future, and involve a diverse group of people to support and sustain the effort.
The outcomes of stage phase are guiding principles and a process for identifying small school designs.
The key tasks to accomplish these outcomes are:
- Identify individuals and groups to provide leadership
- Build community engagement
- Identify mission, vision and beliefs
- Conduct gap analysis
- Craft budget, timeline and action plan
- Establish criteria and process for small school design and selection
- Develop decision making guidelines
The key participants involved in stage phase move beyond the principal, school Change Coordinator and the Leadership Team to include students, parents and community. At this stage, the Change Coordinator and Leadership Team, under the direction of the principal, move from informing and collecting feedback from stakeholders to actively engaging them in, and building momentum for, the work. The Change Coordinator and Leadership Team recruit teachers, students, parents and community members to carry out the tasks of the stage phase. The Leadership Team, Change Coordinator, principal and stakeholders build a commitment to schools that support all students achieving at high levels and, regardless of their future plans, gaining the skills necessary to be successful in college, work and citizenship.
For more detailed description of the roles and responsibilities of the principal, Change Coordinator, Leadership Team, and ad hoc committees, see Converting a School.
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