Identify a person who is a recognized neutral leader to facilitate this process.

Use the Action Step 5.1: Prepare for Decision-Making Process PowerPoint  

to present the information for the following tasks.

1. Establish norms. Consider the following suggestions:

   1. Let everyone be heard

   2. Assume positive intentions

   3. Be present and prepared

   4. Base decisions on evidence collected from multiple perspectives

2. Introduce the definition of consensus. A consensus decision means:

   1. Each team member agrees he/she can support the publisher program ultimately recommended by the committee.

   2. Each team member has a responsibility to support the adoption and its implementation throughout the district.

3. Adoption committee members agree to express and defend their level of support for each program. Introduce the Levels of Support.

   1. I strongly agree with this program and can support it.

   2. I can support this program. I am willing to go along with this choice.

   3. I have concerns and cannot support this program.

   4. I abstain because I didn’t learn enough about this program to have an opinion.

   5. Agree that if the adoption committee is unable to reach consensus, the district’s Executive Committee will make the final decision.