On a beautiful fall Saturday in October, one some may argue as the most amazing time to be in Maine, 13 members of The New School community gathered to further the progress of the cooperative leadership model, taken on by the school this June. Students, teachers, board members, and other various stakeholders spent 5 hours digging deep into the philosophy of the school and its connection to the multiple positions that exist with volunteers, families, and employees. As a cooperative model, the school gives the entire leadership team, comprised of teachers, administrative staff, and committees, the role of running the school together.
Team members worked on assessing the current working committees, groups, and board of directors; closely monitoring the current duties, effectiveness of the groups and the overall purposefulness of their charters. Small groups were formed to work on this task in greater detail while considering the overarching function of the strategic plan. The commitment to individual voice and community collaboration was present all day, especially at the end when this dedicated group agreed to continue the work through implementing the longer term goals of the strategic plan.
