Staff Policies and Practices
There is no established hierarchy among us. We all receive the same salary, with the exception that new, relatively inexperienced additions to the staff are phased in over 5 years, starting at 75% of our modest full salary. All administrative and educational policy decisions are made by consensus. No decision is acted upon until all participants are at least willing "to risk it". As a result, we communally assume responsibility for our successes and failures. Policies have evolved from felt needs and, occasionally, from the need to deal with a crisis. Staff evaluation is a supportive peer exchange woven into the fabric of our daily life together. We all contribute to the analysis of problems and collaborate toward their solutions. There have been some staff changes, but our rate of turnover has been incredibly low, and several of our current staff have been with school since its inception.
