[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: District 281 Begins Strategic Planning

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
District 281 Begins Strategic Planning
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1204697973.shtml


   For all its troubles, one thing I admire about the Robbinsdale
   District 281 School Board is that they know their current strategy has
   problems and willing to change it. They have resumed a strategic
   planning process interrupted by the referendum and subsequent budget
   cutting processes.
   They have hired a consultant to help them craft a new plan. Again, the
   Board showed good judgment in picking someone capable of doing it
   quickly, in "chainsaw" mode as the consultant put it.
   This consultant did this in 2006 for the Moorhead, Minnesota District
   (ISD 152). Various documents of that study are available at that
   school's web site in PDF format. I downloaded them and looked them
   over and I see a problem. This isn't the type of Strategic Planning we
   need.
   The Moorhead plans calls for them to:
    1. Promote high expectations for student achievement and behavior.
    2. Enhance curriculum and instructional experiences to meet the needs
       of all learners.
    3. Promote a safe, healthy and respectful learning environment.
    4. Explore the effectiveness of the school day / school year.
    5. Promote arts and 21st century learning, thinking and life skills.
    6. Explore the efficacy feasibility of all-day kindergarten.

   Do you see what's wrong with this? No? Let's go up a level.
     * Guiding Philosophy: continuous improvement.
     * Mission: develop the maximum potential of every learner to thrive
       in a changing world.
     * Vision: be a school district where all students will become
       lifelong learners and productive citizens. We will work
       collaboratively with our community to provide the resources
       necessary to be a school district of excellence.

   Still not seeing anything you disagree with? Let's review the
   underlying core values, their commitment to:
     * creating a positive learning environment that values children and
       youth.
     * supporting all learners.
     * holding high standards and expectations for all learners.
     * making research-based, data driven collaborative decisions
       inclusive of stakeholder perspectives.
     * seeking continuous improvement and planning for the future.
     * advocating for children and youth within our community and
       district.
     * celebrating students and staff.
     * promoting pride in the Moorhead community and schools.

   How about now? What's wrong with this?
   Nothing, actually, as far as it goes. It just doesn't go far enough
   and in the right directions. It's all "boiler plate" material that
   will generally apply anywhere. It's almost totally generic, tasks they
   should have been performing all along. And, it's an inside job,
   written by insiders for insiders, and therefore loaded with jargon and
   code words like "resources" when they so clearly mean money, which
   almost always means taxes. But the words "tax" and "taxpayer" do not
   appear at all in this 25 page document. There is nothing about
   budgets, payroll, financial controls, efficiency, return on
   investement, and so on.
   Another word barely mentioned was "parent" and then only as a
   contributor to a goal or process. There is nothing about actually
   looking at them as customers to be pleased by their children's
   progress, like private and charter schools so obviously must do to
   survive, let alone succeed.
   Accountability is apparently only for students. There is no talk of
   holding the staff accountable. The word "teacher" itself is another
   rarely found word. It wouldn't matter anyway. Despite a commitment to
   "SMART" (specific, measurable, attainable, results-based, time-bound)
   goals, the document is laced with weasel words. They will "promote"
   this or that, not firmly commit to "provide" it. They will review data
   quarterly, not necessarily act on it.
   I'll be sharing this opinion with the Board from still another
   perspective. I hope that I can convince them that what I described
   above is of no real value to District 281.