Lara:
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I appreciate the links about facilitation as well. I've been learning some from @Emily Read Daniels as well. In fact, you two should connect. I think you both might like that and are doing some parallel work on east/west coast. And are both great!
Anyhow, thank you for these resources which I'll be diving into later on. LOVE THIS COMMUNITY!
I'd not thought of the power dynamics replaying in terms of equity but it's really key as the meeting itself is often led by the principal and it's not like she's power grabbing but kind of steps into that role and all of us are less certain. I shared, AT THE LAST meeting and that before we begin we as a council might want to address/assess ourselves. We are by law supposed to be 50% parents and reflect the community we exist in and on both counts do not. I shared that the parity rule/law is because if parents aren't 50% of who is present, parents won't/don't engage and end up leaving. If parents always have a solo/lone opinion, they stop talking and if they don't have half the votes, opinions don't matter all that much anyhow.
So, how we start is crucial and why token representation doesn't work (for anyone), even if/when well-meaning (it can feel just well, mean). Anyhow, I'd never understood the painful replay part and why it can feel painful rather than productive.
Learning why school councils require 50% participation of not just the regular players and it makes sense (and it helped me understand that my vibe of either seeming silent/invisible or vocal/grumpy wasn't always so fabulous for me or others).
ANYHOW, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Always learning and quite grateful!
Cissy