COLUMN: Good to great
Community members, trustees, administrators, teachers, support staff and students will be participating in three days of strategic planning February 25, March 12 and March 25, 2014 thanks to Governor Bullock awarding Polson Schools a Quality Schools Planning Grant for $28,800. These planning sessions will take place at the Polson Library Conference Room, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. with the results each day reported out to the community at 6:30 p.m. In addition to general data gathering, we are also completing a demographic study in order to find out if school enrollment will increase in the next 10-15 years. Participants will engage in a comprehensive process that will look at current educational outcomes and our school facilities followed by exploring other successful educational models and then applying what is learned to the future direction of Polson Public Schools. Overall, this process will put us in the “pipeline” for a potential future Quality Schools Project Grant for Polson Schools.
You may ask, “Why spend time strategically planning?” Overall, a strategic planning process will lead to a stronger, more purposeful direction for the school district in meeting the needs of students now and in the future. Additionally, planning will help to use the resources and tax dollars given to Polson Schools by the community and the state wisely. Finally, planning will help ease the stress of changes that must be made to either programs or facilities.
The planning process might be well linked to Jim Collins, author of the book, Good to Great where Collins studies how schools and other organizations can become great. “Greatness” and rising to become a GREAT school district is a theme I have articulated as Superintendent. In order to be GREAT, our District is going to have to make changes in the way we educate our students. However, I have always believed and from my experience as a school administrator that change needs to be planned and collaborative where we come together as team to embrace new directions for our children’s future. This plan will provide ideas and action steps that all participants will have participated in and created together.
I would like to extend an open invitation to our community to participate with us as we work together to make Polson School District one of the finest school districts in Montana and a source of pride for our community. This planning team will envision the future of Polson Public Schools, as a #1 educational institution of choice with facilities that are cutting-edge with technology and distance learning; provide students with career paths early in their educational careers; develop positive social connections with students at all levels; and create partnerships with our community and businesses.
If you would like to be a part of this strategic planning process, please contact my office at 883-6355 and express your interest in participating.