Now that the working group has decided to move ahead with the districting process, it must make decisions about how it will do so. The Planning Phase can be a very difficult time because it may involve delicate negotiations between boards, with staff members, with city councils, with community organizations, and with individuals.
It is therefore essential that a plan for implementing this phase be written. The plan should identify:
- what steps will be taken and when
- who will be responsible for various roles in the process
- how information will be gathered
- how decisions will be made
- who can act as spokespersons for the group
- when meetings will be held
- how the process will be evaluated
- how and when reality checks will be made
We have created a Plan to Plan form, a checklist of activities that will help you get started.