Greendale School District Starts Work on New Strategic Plan

Changing times mean a new strategic plan is needed for the

That's according to school administrators who have begun the process of devising a plan that will reflect current realities and take into account future issues and needs.

Starting in 1993, the school district began a process of bringing the community together every three-to-five years to review accomplishments and redevelop the district's strategic plan.

The last plan was created in 2008 and administrators presented a report at the January 9 school board meeting of the results achieved for that plan.

Director of Assessment and Learning Kim Amidzich told the board that a significant percentage of the five goals established in the 2008 Strategic Plan have been accomplished. Those goals included student achievement, world language learning, technology, finances and facilities. 

Board members also heard some of the information gathered at a workshop held on January 6 and 7 at Greendale High School. The event was billed as a 'Community Conversation' and gathered local residents, business leaders, and district staff and teachers to build a consensus and common awareness in the community about the future of the school district.

About 175 people participated in the workshop, which was led by Gary Marx of the Center for Public Outreach in Vienna, Virginia. Marx is a consultant who is known for speaking on future-oriented education.    

Board members were impressed with the turnout at the event. Vicki McCormick, who attended the workshop, said, "There is a lot of talent in this community. This was a way to tap into that."

School board president Tom Slota called the process fascinating, saying, "This shows why you don't leave your long-range planning up to just a small handful of people."   

District officials plan to compile all the information gathered from participants at the workshop and report back to the school board. They also have scheduled a series of additional planning meetings to come up with the new Strategic Plan for the district.

Administrators also told board members that they will need to review and possibly revise the current set of Budget Guiding Principles which will be used to help prepare the school district's 2012-13 budget.

Superintendent Bill Hughes told the board to expect a moderate budget process for next year, although the year after that may be more difficult as the board will need to decide what cuts if any need to be made as Wisconsin schools continue to deal with the struggling economy.

He said two issues that will need to be considered in the next budget are needed technology infrastructure upgrades and what to do about moving the district offices out of to deal with growing enrollment and space issues at the school.